Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis, Ashen Bandara and Wanindu Hasaranga displayed noteworthy performances in the intra-squad 40-over practice game held today (21st May) at BKSP Ground ahead of three-match ODI series against Bangladesh which begins on 23rd May.
The two teams were captained by the newly appointed ODI skipper Kusal Perera and his deputy Kusal Mendis.
Team A – Kusal Janith Perera (Capt), Danushka Gunathilaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka, Ashen Bandara, Isuru Udana, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando, Shiran Fernando
Team B – Kusal Mendis (Capt), Niroshan Dickwella, Pathum Nissanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Binura Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan, Dushmantha Chameera.
Team B led by Mendis won the toss and elected to bat first and posted a mammoth score of 284 for 5 in the allotted 40 overs. The left-hander Niroshan Dickwella who is in search of a place in Sri Lanka’s ODI setup found form at the right time scoring a blistering unbeaten 88 runs.
The skipper Mendis also stroked a fine half-century while all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne (35) and Lakshan Sandakan (27*) chipped in with useful contributions with the bat.
Team A led by Perera didn’t give up as they also showed their batting prowess coming very close to the target with putting 282 runs on the board. The in-form middle-order batsman Ashen Bandara top-scored with an unbeaten 80 runs while all-rounder Hasaranga gave him good support at the other end scoring 79 runs.
The seaming all-rounder Karunaratne who impressed with the bat early in the day showed his tricks with the ball taking 3 scalps for 40 runs.
Brief Scores
Team B – 284/5 (40) N Dickwella 88*, K Mendis 73, C Karunaratne 35, L Sandakan 27*, D De Silva 25, B Fernando 21*, D Gunathilaka 1/26, A Fernando 1/27, I Udana 1/40, W Hasaranga 1/43.
Team A – 282 (37.2) A Bandara 80*, W Hasaranga 79, I Udana 47, K Perera 28, D Gunathilaka 17, C Karunaratne 3/40, B Fernando 1/43, D Chameera 1/45, R Mendis 1/57, L Sandaka 1/59.
 at BKSP Ground ahead of three-match ODI series against Bangladesh which begins on 23rd May. ){kind=link}