On an evenly poised 3rd day, the Sri Lanka Emerging XI spinners managed to keep things tight without letting the Surrey batters run away with the match as 7 wickets fell for 286 runs after 97.4 overs.
The overnight batters for Surrey, Ryan Patel and Ben Geddes who put up an outstanding display of batsmanship, resumed day 3 by quickly passing the 200-run mark. The pair added 30 runs in the day before Dunith Wellage took his 1st scalp of the match by removing Patel who was on 126.
Ben Geddes, who scored his maiden First Class century, was the 2nd wicket to fall as he departed for 104 after being caught by Santhush Gunathilake off a delivery by Nuwanidu Fernando.
Wellalage took his 2nd wicket dismissing Jamie Smith for 45, after a tough period of play for the hosts, thanks to some tight bowling by Fernando and Wellalage.
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Gus Atkinson who normally bats down the order received a promotion to bat at number 5 and he delivered big time for the hosts by scoring his 2nd fifty in first class cricket. Atkinson brought momentum back to the Surrey innings by attacking the bowlers as they overtook the Emerging XI’s 1st innings total. Nico Reifer supported him really well, scoring a half century on debut as the runs continued to pile up.
Just as the 4th wicket partnership was nearing the three-figure mark, Fernando trapped Reifer leg before for 68. Skipper Cameron Steele tried to bring the attack to the young Sri Lankan attack but Wellalage continued with his economical line of bowling and brought out a mistake by the opposition skipper as he was stumped for 13.
Just few overs before stumps on Day 3, Atkinson who was on his way to score a well deserved maiden ton in first class cricket became the 4th victim of Dunith’s superb spell for 91. Yasiru Rodrigo also joined the party for Sri Lanka Emerging by taking his first wicket of the match by dismissing Tom Lawes for 8 runs in the final over of the day.
At Stumps on Day 3 Surrey were 482/7 with a healthy lead of 110 runs.
The 4th and final day of the match will begin at 3.30PM Sri Lanka Time on the 23rd of May.
