The three-day warm-up match between Sri Lanka Board President’s XI and Indians ended in a draw at R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.
India started off from their overnight score of 112/3 but both the unbeaten batsmen KL Rahul (47 no) and Cheteshwar Pujara (31 no) retired to give the lower order a chance to get some decent hit. Bhuvneshwar Kumar stroked five fours and scored 37 runs off 56 balls, helping India cross the 150-mark. Kumar added 37 runs for the final wicket with Umesh Yadav (17*) before he was last man dismissed when the score was 180.
Board President’s XI thus required 411 runs for an outright victory, but that was never the purpose of their second innings. Instead, it was about batting time for their Test team members and for the Indians, it was about sending down a few overs. Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron were handed the new ball and they bowled with consistency in line and length, and used the new ball to good effect.
Harabhajan Singh dismissed Lahiru Thirimanne for 18 as Ajinkya Rahane took a sharp catch at first slip. Upul Tharanga (52 runs, 54 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) then came to the crease and stroked his way to a fine half-century in 50 balls, putting on 73 runs with opener Kaushal Silva (83*, 163 balls, 6 fours), who also overcame his first innings’ disappointment and warmed up for the Test series with a fine batting performance.
Ashwin (3-38) took three quick wickets in quick succession to get some confidence before the three-match Test series which starts on 12th August in Galle.
Indians –351 all out in 88.1 overs: KL Rahul 43, Shikhar Dhawan 62, Ajinkya Rahane 109, Chetheshwar Pujara 42, Kasun Rajitha 5/68, Jeffrey Vandersay 2/76.
SL Board President’s XI – 121 all out in 31 overs: Niroshan Dickwella 41, Milinda Siriwardana 32, Danushka Gunathilake 28, Ishant Sharma 5/23, Varun Aaron 2/42, Ravichandra Ashwin 2/8.
Indians (2nd inn) – 180 all out in 58.4 overs: Chesteshwar Pujara 31, KL Rahul 47, Vishwa Fernando 2/17, Kasun Rajitha 2/38.
SL Board President’s XI (2nd inn) – 200/6 in 54 ov Kaushal Silva 83*, Upul Tharanga 52, R Ashwin 3/38.
