England Lions take three match series
England Lions clinch the three match unofficial Test series when their third and final unofficial Test match against Sri Lanka A ended in a tame draw at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.
With 13 overs of play left the match was called off with the consent of the two captains.
England Lions batsman Sam Robson salutes on completion of his century. Robson made 147 not out. (Pic Shantha Ratnayake)
An inevitable draw was on the cards when play ended on the third day after Sri Lanka A had batted almost the whole of day three to make 339 in reply to England Lions 461.
The England Lions having resumed their second innings on 39 for 1 batted throughout day four to end with a score of 273 for 5. The highlight of the final days play was an unbeaten 147 made by opener Sam Robson who was also associated in an unbroken sixth wicket stand with Varun Chopra.
The pair joined together after the lunch break when the visitors were on 123 for 5 and kept on piling runs with consummate ease. With England Lions having the series in the pocket the duo was not in a hurry.
In the process Robson and Chopra associated themselves in an unbroken 150 runs stand for the sixth wicket while for Sri Lanka A the bowling honours went to right arm offie Suraj Randiv who ended with three wickets for a match bag of seven wickets.
| England Lions 1st innings 461 (Chris Woakes 137, Scott Borthwick 99, Varun Chopra 83, Liam Plunkett 39, Alex Lees 20, Jonny Bairstow 20: Suraj Randiv 5 for 107, Lahiru Gamage 2 for 95) Sri Lanka A 1st innings 339 (Upul Tharanga 149, Madawa Warnapura 71, Niroshan Dickwella 39: Simon Kerrigan 4 for 86, Tymal Mills 3 for 49, Graham Onions 3 for 53) England Lions 2nd innings |