Former Josephian & Colts CC middle-order batsman Roshane Silva stroked a fantastic unbeaten century on day four in the first unofficial Test match between Sri Lanka A and West Indies A which ended in a draw at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.
The right-handed Silva batted for 267 minutes on the final day to salvage a draw for the visitors after the hosts’ set a daunting target of 342 runs in 79 overs.
The home team resumed their 2nd innings from their overnight score of 158 for 4. Henry Nicholls and Derek de Boorder reached 80s but the wicket of Nicholls prompted the hosts’ to declare their innings soon.
Nicholls was dismissed for 88 by leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay while Boorder remained unbeaten on 86. New Zealand A declared their 2nd innings at 229 for 6 in 48 overs.
The islanders lost both their openers, Udara Jayasundara and Dhananjaya De Silva in the 10th over for 13 runs each. One drop batsman, Minod Bhanuka was the next to be dismissed as the visitors were tottering at 47 for 3.
Vice-captain Kithruwan Vithanage and Roshane Silva constructed a brilliant rearguard effort to add 137 runs for the 4th wicket.
Left-handed Vithanage scored 16 fours and a six during his 113-ball 88 but his downfall followed by the dismissals of first innings’ centurion, Niroshan Dickwella & skipper Ashan Priyanjan sent jitters into the Lankan camp.
Calm-minded Silva took up the responsibility onto his shoulders and batted gracefully to earn an honourable drawn for the visitors. The 26-year old ended unbeaten on 120 from 214 balls with 14 fours and a six. He was involved in an unbroken 7th wicket stand worth 68 with Jeffrey Vandersay.
Earlier in the match, opener Jeet Raval and Henry Nicholls blasted centuries for the hosts’ in their first-innings.
The 2nd and final unofficial Test match will be worked out from 24th of October to 27th at Lincoln.
New Zealand A – 470 all out in 123 overs: Jeet Raval 152, Dean Brownlie 68, Henry Nicholls 144, Neil Wagner 25, Jeffrey Vandersay 5/107, Lahiru Gamage 2/82.
Sri Lanka A – 358 all out in 100.5 overs: Udara Jayasundara 99, Dhananjaya De Silva 35, Roshen Silva 47, Niroshan Dickwella 128, Colin Munro 3/37, Adam Milne 3/52, Ish Sodhi 2/73.
New Zealand A (2nd inn) – 229/6 in 48 overs: Henry Nicholls 88, Derek de Boorder 86*, Vishwa Fernando 3/72.
Sri Lanka A (2nd inn) – 274/6 in 79 overs: Kithruwan Vithanage 88, Roshane Silva 120*, Neil Wagner 4/79.
