Sri Lanka A faced their second defeat in the triangular series featuring the Pakistan and England A teams as the English Lions registered an 88 run victory on D/L method in the game held at Northampton yesterday.
The hosts’ skipper Dawid Malan won the toss and elected to bat first and the Lions got off to a flying start thanks to a fiery approach by the openers. Daniel Bell-Drummond and Skipper Malan put up 83 for the first wicket before Bell-Drummond was dismissed for a well-made 52.
The Lankans couldn’t capitalize on the breakthrough as the Lions kept scoring at a brisk pace. Ben Duckett, who came in at first drop, scored a well composed 62 and put up a 118 run partnership with skipper Malan. Malan went on to reach his century and he carried on the onslaught for the Lions. After the dismissal of Duckett, Sam Billings came in and took the Lankan bowlers apart. His knock of 68 runs included 11 fours and 1 maximum, using up just 34 deliveries.
Billings innings was indeed a treat to watch but the star of the English innings was skipper Malan who batted till the very end and scored an unbeaten 185 runs off just 126 balls which included 16 fours and 8 sixes. The Lions made 393 runs in their 50 overs; it was absolute carnage from top order who did not allow any bowler to settle down throughout the innings.
The only economical bowler for the Lankans was Ramith Rambukwella who only gave away 48 runs in his ten overs; all the other bowlers went for plenty.
The Lankans had no choice but to go all guns blazing from the first over. Niroshan Dikwella and Mahela Udawatta started off well for the Lankans but with such a high asking rate they had to keep going. Dickwella scored a brisk 51 before he was clean bowled by Mark Wood. Bhanuka Rajapaksa came in at first drop and lasted only 3 deliveries. Mahela Udawatta looked good but he too lost his wicket when he was set on 34.
The Sri Lankans fell into deeper trouble when Minod Bhanuka lost his wicket for just 3 runs, as the scorecard read 92 for 4 when Ashan Priyajan and Angelo Perera got together at the crease. The pair out on 72 runs for the 5th wicket to take Sri Lanka to 164/4 before rain intervened.
Play could not resume due to heavy rain which gave the English Lions a well-deserved 88 run victory on the Duckworth-Lewis Method.
