Tharindu Kaushal sends England Lions reeling
Right-arm spinner Tharindu Kaushal’s five wicket haul sent the England Lions reeling to a low score of 201 on the opening day of the three day encounter between Sri Lanka A Emerging XI and England Lions played at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.
However the England Lions came back into the game when they grabbed four wickets in the 22 overs that the home team batted.
Tharindu was supported by right-arm pacie Ishan Jayaratne and left-arm spinner Chathura Randunu who shared four wickets. England Lions skipper Chris Woakes winning the toss and electing to take first lease of the wicket had fluctuating fortunes.
Left-arm spinner Chathura Randunu, a member of the Lankan spin trio, captured two important wickets – Pic by Ranjith Perera
The England Lions batsmen were mesmerized by the spin attack of their opponents. Apart from Moeen Ali who made a knock of 53 in 90 balls that comprised five boundaries and two sixes and two knocks of 30’s coming from Jonny Bairstow and Ollie Rayner the others failed to make any impression.
The visitors lost their top five batsmen with just 130 runs on the board and later fared no better as they lost the remaining five wickets for the addition of only 71 runs as they found the spin attack too hot to handle.
The Sri Lanka Emerging XI in their turn got off to a poor start losing their first wicket in the fifth ball of the first over with one run on the board. They lost two more for the addition of 40 runs before Bhanuka Rajapaksa who cracked 60 in 57 balls, with seven boundaries and two sixes, put on a 49-run stand for the fourth wicket as the home team ended the day on 92 for 4. The match will continue today.
The England Lions’ second practice match will be played from February 6 to 8 also at the Colts ground. This will be followed by the three unofficial Test match against Sri Lanka A.The first match is scheduled to be played from February 12 to 15 at Pallekele followed by the second match from February 19-22 at Dambulla and the last match from February 26 to March 1 at R. Premadasa Stadium.
| Scoreboard
England Lions 1st innings |