Lankan openers keep pace with English Lions
Finally the Lankan second string lads came up with a fitting batting display, as they ended the second unofficial Test with a powerful reply of 357 for 3 with opener Dimuth Karunaratne making his bat talk with a timely knock of 156. Besides Karunaratne his co-opener and skipper Upul Tharanga also nipped in with a good knock of 116.
The second unofficial Test match between Sri Lanka A and England Lions at Rangiri Dambulla Stadium ended in a tame draw after the two captains agreed to call off the match after the dismissal of Madawa Warnapura with only 14 overs of play left as there was no way of a result.
The Lankan openers went into the lunch break without being separated with the score on 174 having added a further 102
Openers Upul Tharanga and Dimuth Karunaratne transferred the frustration on to England Lions with a stand of 228 runs on the final day at Dambulla - Pic by Shantha Ratnayaka
runs.Karunaratne in particular was more aggressive as he remained unbeaten on 95 off 161 balls which had 11 boundaries and a six with Tharanga on 76 made in 169 balls that comprised 12 boundaries.
The post lunch too turned out to be a batmen’s paradise as the pair had things their own way having negotiated 31 overs in the morning session of play. In the process both of them went on to reach their tons with Karunaratne racing to it first.
They added another 54 runs before the England Lions bowlers got their first taste of success with Tharanga being dismissed by his counterpart Woakes after having made a fine knock of 116 off 207 balls inclusive of 21 boundaries.
Karunaratne joined by Chathuranga de Silva denied further success for the England Lions bowlers with the pair being associated in an unbroken stand of 73 runs for the second wicket. Sri Lanka A went into the tea break on 301 for 1 with Karunaratne unbeaten on 140 and Silva on 35.
Karunaratne was able to add only another 16 runs before he was clean bowled by Simon Kerrigan having made a knock of 156 off 258 balls which included 16 boundaries and a six and was also associated in a 102 runs stand for the second with Silva. Silva cracked an unbeaten 59 in 82 balls which had three boundaries and two sixes.
The third day’s play was studded with a career best unbeaten knock of 242 by James Taylor . Taylor has made four double tons prior to his best of 242 in first class matches and his marathon fifth double ton of his career came off 337 balls that included 30 boundaries and two sixes.
Taylor following his 197 runs partnership for the third wicket with Sam Robson on the second day was involved in four valuable partnerships.
With Jonny Bairstow he added 54 runs for the fifth wicket which followed with a 52 runs stand for the sixth wicket with skipper Chris Woakes, 67 runs for the seventh wicket with Scott Borthwick and an unbroken 147 runs for the eighth wicket with Liam Plunkett.
The England Lions ended their innings making a mammoth score of 605 for 7 declared which gave them a lead of 316 runs. The two teams will play their final unofficial Test match from February 26 to March 1 at R. Premadasa Stadium.
| Scoreboard
Sri Lanka A 1st Innings 289 (Roshane Silva 73, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 68, Dimuth Karunaratne 37, Madawa Warnapura 34, Chathuranga de Silva 20: Graham Onions 4 for 24, Liam Plunkett 2 for 37, Scott Borthwick 2 for 61) Sri Lanka 2nd Innings (72/0 overnight) |