The 3rd and final unofficial Test match between Sri Lanka ‘A’ and West Indies ‘A’ is heading for a tame draw at Moratuwa after 3 days of cricket as the visitors lead by 166 runs.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ resumed from their overnight score of 248/6. Dinesh Chandimal added only 1 run to his score as he was dismissed by the right-arm leg break bowler Devendra Bishoo for 44 runs. Left-hander Chathuranga De Silva made 36 runs in 50 balls before he became the 8th Lankan wicket to fall. Tharindu Kaushal and Kasun Madusanka determinedly got the hosts to the lead as they put on a valuable stand of 24 runs for the 9th wicket and eventually the Lankan innings came to an end in the 86th over with the total score of 299. Carlos Braithwaite and Devendra Bishoo took 3 wickets apiece for the Windies.
The visitors walked-out to bat in their innings with only 17 runs behind. The successful opening pair of Assad Fudadin and Kraigg Braithwaite once again took the shine off the new red ball as they produced 44 runs for the 1st wicket before left-arm spinner Chathuranga De Silva dismissed Braithwaite for a 38-ball knock of 32. One drop batsman Jermaine Blackwood fell to the bowling of Tharindu Kaushal 3 overs later as the Windies were restricted to 53/2 in 16 overs.
Left-handed Assad Fudadin and the 26-year old Jonathan Carter consumed more than 15 overs to score 44 runs for the 3rd wicket before part-time off-spinner Ashan Priyanjan trapped Fudadin plumb in-front for 39 runs. The Lankan bowling barrage continued to test the skill level of the Caribbean men but the 4th wicket pair of Jonathan Carter and Andre Fletched batted sensibly with patience to power their team to a substantial lead when the match was prematurely stopped due to bad light. Carter and Fletcher were unshaken as they have added 86 runs as West Indies ‘A’ score was 183/3 in 66 overs. Carter looked very confident as he was not out on 69 in 145 balls with 5 fours.
With the weather conditions changing continuously, the match will certainly end as a drawn encounter unless something extraordinary happens on the final day.
Chief Scores:
West Indies ‘A’ – 282 all out in 74.5 overs: Assad Fudadin 103, Kraigg Braithwaite 75, Tharindu Kaushal 5/125, Nuwan Pradeep 4/40.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ – 248/6 in 72 overs: Upul Tharanga 77, Kusal Janith Perera 38, Dinesh Chandimal 44, Kithruwan Vithanage 25, Chathuranga De Silva 36, Carlos Braithwaite 3/28, Devendra Bishoo 3/102.
West Indies ‘A’ (2nd inn) – 183/3 in 66 overs: Assad Fudadin 39, Kraigg Braithwaite 32, Jonathan Carter 69*, Andre Fletcher 36*, Ashan Priyanjan 1/41.
