The three day game between the Sri Lanka Board President’s XI and the England Lions worked off in Moratuwa ended in a draw today(14).
Resuming from their overnight score of 182/4, the hosts powered by a knock of 72 by Leo Fransisco, went on to make 324 all out. His knock included 9 fours and a solitary six.
Top scorer in the Sri Lanka Premier Tier B tournament, Harsha Prabath also impressed with 42 and was involved in a 64 run partnership for the fifth wicket with Fransisco.
Ollie Rayner picked up 3 wickets for the visitors while Kumar Sangakkara’s Surrey team mate, Sam Curran chipped in with a couple.
Chasing a target of 199 for victory, the Englishmen looked well on course but a late surge by the Sri Lankan bowlers and a bit of help from the weather gods meant that the visitors were held to a draw as they ended the day on 171/6.
The visitors top batsmen spent crucial time in the middle before their clashes against the Sri Lanka A team, with useful contributions coming from Keaton Jennings(49), Haseeb Hameed(39) and Nick Gubbins(52*).
Left arm tweaker Malinda Pushpakumara impressed once again with another three wicket haul to take his match tally to six wickets while test discard Tharindu Kaushal bowled decently to capture two wickets.
Sri Lanka Board Presidents XI – 153 (53.3) Ron Chandraguptha 48, Dilan Jayalath 26, Tharindu Kaushal 18*, Tom Helm 3/18, Tom Curran 2/23, Craig Overton 2/31 & 324 (100.5) Ron Chandraguptha 91, Leo Fransisco 72, Irosh Samarasooriya 42, Hashan Prabath 42, Ollie Rayner 3/55, Sam Curran 2/34
England Lions – 279 (69.1) Tom Westley 95, Liam Livingstone 84, Sam Curran 24, Malinda Pushpakumara 3/82, Vimukthi Perera 2/27, Nisala Tharaka 2/60, Tharindu Kaushal 2/59 & 171/6 (37.1) Nick Gubbins 52*, Keaton Jennings 49, Haseeb Hameed 39, Malinda Pushpakumara 3/35, Tharindu Kaushal 2/60
.){kind=link}