Sri Lanka ’A’ need only 3 wickets and they still lead the game by 14 runs as West Indies ’A’ batted with grit and determination on day 3 to save the 1st unofficial Test match at Hambanthota.
The visitors resumed their 1st innings from the overnight score of 96/7. Wicket-keeper batsman Chadwick Walton took the burden upon his shoulders as he played a brave knock but eventually fell short of partners. Seamer Shaminda Eranga struck twice early on day 3 though Walton resisted close to an hour before he became Seekuge Prasanna’s 6th victim as he was caught and bowled by the leg-spinner for a 90-ball half-century as the tourists were all out for 160 in 51 overs.
Kraigg Braithwaite and Assad Fudadin walked out to the middle for the 2nd innings as Sri Lanka enforced the follow-on and they got the important scalp of Kraigg Braithwaite in the 3rd over which signaled another collapse. The 2nd wicket stand between Assad Fudadin and Kirk Edwards lasted only for 65 balls before the opener was caught behind by Niroshan Dickwella off Seekuge Prasanna for 11 runs.
Kirk Edwards and Jermaine Blackwood added 77 runs for the 3rd wicket but right-arm fast bowler Lahiru Gamage and Seekuge Prasanna combined together to rip apart the Windies middle order as they were restricted to 175/7 after being 117 for the loss of only 2 wickets at one stage. Kirk Edwards made 76 runs in 117 balls while Blackwood scored 5 boundaries in his innings of 39.
Sri Lanka ’A’ were looking to close out the game on day 3 itself but the 8th wicket partnership between Shane Shillingford and Nikita Miller ensured the hosts would have to fight for the final 3 wickets on the last day of the match as they put on 92 runs and remained unbroken. Shillingford stroked 5 sixes in his 56* while Miller consumed 76 balls to score his 37 runs.
The match will be continued on Tuesday.
Chief Scores:
Sri Lanka ‘A’ – 413 all out in 140.5 overs: Dimuth Karunaratne 139, Lahiru Thirimanne 93, Dinesh Chandimal 87, Shane Shillingford 5/160, Shannon Gabriel 2/43.
West Indies ‘A’ – 160 all out in 51 overs: Assad Fudadin 32, Kraigg Braithwaite 24, Chadwick Walton 50, Seekuge Prasanna 6/64, Shaminda Eranga 2/54.
West Indies ‘A’ (2nd innings) – 267/7 in 73 overs: Kirk Edwards 76, Jermaine Blackwood 39, Shane Shillingford 56*, Nikita Miller 37*, Seekuge Prasanna 3/114, Lahiru Gamage 3/49
