Determined bowling from the spinners help Sri Lanka ‘A’ defend a modest 133 runs to record a marvellous 15 run win on (D/L method) against strong Kiwi outfit.
New Zealand ‘A’ won the toss and elected to field on a cloudy morning in Cardiff. The game was reduced to twenty overs per innings as the heavens opened up after just one over in the Sri Lankan ‘A’ innings. Sri Lanka ‘A’ got off to a bad start when Mahela Udawatta and was caught by Tom Latham off the bowling of Scott Kuggeleijn for just 1off 3 balls. Dinesh Chandimal was
the next to follow him to the shed as he was caught by Grant Elliott off the bowling of Doug Bracewell for a run-a- ball 17.
The Lankans were reduced to 39 for 3 when Danushka Gunathilaka was caught by Doug Bracewell, this time off the bowling of Grant Elliott for 18 runs off 26 balls. Chaturanga de Silva played a captains knock when he scored a quick fire 52 runs off just 35 deliveries. Seekkuge Prasanna was the second highest scorer of the inning with a brutal 23 runs off 12 balls with 2 sixes and a solitary boundary. None of the other batsmen made an effective contribution to the Sri Lanka ‘A’ 133/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
Beginning the chase of 134, New Zealand ‘A’ had a shaky start as they lost their opener Tom Latham who was trapped in front for 1 run off 5 balls in the second over of the innings off the bowling of Ishan Jayaratne. New Zealand ‘A’ continued to keep up to the required run rate but losing wickets
at regular intervals did not help the Kiwis run chase. Hamish Rutherford scored a brisk 35 off just 19 balls with 6 fours and one six. While Dean Brownlie scored 36 runs off 29 balls with 5 fours and a six.
Seekkuge Prasanna bagged his 4th wicket as BJ Watlng was caught by Chaturanga de Silva as New Zealand ‘A’ was reduced to 94 for 6. Sri Lanka ‘A’ managed to peg the game back on their side as the spinners continued to pick wickets at regular intervals. New Zealand ‘A’ was all out in the 19th over as Lankan captain Chaturanga de Silva picked the final Kiwi wicket to end the New Zealand innings at 121/10 in 19.4 overs to hand Sri Lanka ‘A’ a close win.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka ‘A’ – 133/7 in 20 overs: Chaturanga de Silva 52, Seekkuge Prasanna 23, Hamish Bennett 3/14, Doug Bracewell 2/23.
New Zealand ‘A’ – 121/10 in 19.4 overs: Dean Brownlie 36, Hamish Rutherford 35, Seekkuge Prasanna 4/13.
