Batting feast in Dambulla as Chandimal, Asela return

The Sri Lanka Emerging team took a leaf out of their seniors book as they posted a daunting 376/3, batting first in their 1st unofficial ODI against the South Africa Emerging team in Dambulla today(09).

Sri Lanka Emerging vs South Africa Emerging – 1st Four Day Match

Sri Lanka Emerging Team will take on South Africa Emerging in the first four-day match on 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th July at Chilaw Marians Ground

The discarded Sadeera Samarawickrama and Dimuth Karunaratne – pushing for a place in the shorter formats for Sri Lanka – got the innings off to a dream start with a 252 run opening stand inside 39 overs.

Karunaratne who has hit a purple patch during the past few months was the first to be dismissed, not before he made an outstanding 125 off just 117 deliveries inclusive of 15 fours.

Sri Lanka Emerging vs South Africa Emerging – 2nd Four Day Match

The second four-day encounter between Sri Lanka Emerging Cricket Team and South Africa Emerging Cricket Team will be worked out on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th of August at MRICS, Hambanthota.

Samarawickrama the more aggressive partner of the two, smashed 17 fours and a six in his magnificent 141 which came off just 127 balls.

The two batsmen were dismissed late in to the Sri Lanka Emerging innings while Sammu Ashan fell for a golden duck as the only other wicket to fall.

Dinesh Chandimal and Asela Gunaratne, who have been given an opportunity to regain form before making a comeback into the senior Sri Lankan side, made full use of their opportunity with useful batting practice. Chandimal blasted a 38 ball 58 while the unorthodox Gunaratne hit 35* off just 19 balls.

The South Africa Emerging unit got off to a flier but it was short lived as they continued to lose wickets at regular intervals before being bowled out for 161.

The pacemen kept things tight chipping away with crucial wickets while Jeffrey Vandersay picked up two wickets, but it was the promising right arm off-spinner Nishan Peiris who delivered the knockout punch to the junior Proteas.

The tall Peiris used his flight and guile to perfection as he spun his web around the South African batsmen who seemed to be all at sea against the Sri Lankan spinners. Peiris went on to capture 5/36 in 8.1 overs as South Africa Emerging folded up like nine pins to hand a 215 run victory to the hosts.