Sri Lanka A managed to post 244/4 at stumps on day one in their 2nd unofficial Test match against Pakistan A, which started on Wednesday at Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium.
After the first unofficial Test ended without a decision, teams travelled to the hill capital in Sri Lanka for another exciting game of four-day cricket. Pakistan A skipper Fawad Alam won the toss and had no hesitation in putting the hosts to take the first lease on the wicket which is renowned to give some assistance to the faster bowlers.
The Lankan openers, Udara Jayasundera and Dhananjaya De Silva carefully managed the moving ball and the fearsome attitude of the Pakistani bowlers as they went into the lunch break together putting 83 runs in 27 overs. After the lunch break, in the 38th over Sri Lanka A lost their first wicket when the score was on 101 as the left-handed Udara was trapped LBW by left-arm seam of Zia-Ul-Haq for 42, he took 119 deliveries and made 6 fours and a six.
One drop batsman, Madawa Warnapura once again failed to get going as he too was trapped LBW but this time by the slow left-arm spin of Zafar Gohar for 7 runs. Left-handed Kithruwan Vithanage joined Dhananjaya De Silva and the pair steadied the ship nicely putting 56 runs for the 3rd wicket before De Silva was unfortunately dismissed by Imad Wasim for a well-compiled 96. He batted for 207 balls and his innings comprised of 11 fours to the boundary line.
Sri Lanka A lost their skipper Ashan Priyanjan cheaply as they were 195 for 4 at one stage but the former Royalists, Kithruwan Vithanage and Kusal Janith Perera managed to counter the Pakistani A bowlers under fading light. Vithanage and Perera were both unbeaten on 63* and 21* respectively.
The match will be continued tomorrow (14th May, Thursday).
Chief Scores:
Sri Lanka A – 244/4 in 81 overs: Udara Jayasundera 42, Dhnanjaya De Silva 96, Kithruwan Vithanage 63*, Kusal Janith Perera 21*, Imad Wasim 1/29, Zafar Gohar 1/48.
