MATARA, Sri Lanka, CMC – West Indies A made breakthroughs at key intervals to limit Sri Lanka A as rain continued to ravage the second four-day “Test” at the Uyanwatte Stadium here yesterday.
Following the first day wash-out, the adverse weather allowed just 34 overs on day two, and the hosts limped to 137 for six after being asked to bat.
Ashan Priyanjan top-scored with 40 and Kithuruwan Vithanage got 36 not out, while Dimuth Karunaratne weighed in with 25.
Fast bowlers Shannon Gabriel (2-20) and Miguel Cummins (2-29), along with off-spinner Shane Shillingford (2-54) all picked up two wickets apiece.
Karunaratne and captain Upul Tharanga (16) frustrated West Indies in a first wicket stand of 37 before Cummins prised out Tharanga to a catch at the wicket.
Gabriel then struck in successive overs to reduce Sri Lanka to 53 for three, first trapping Madawa Warnapura lbw for seven before bowling Karunaratne.
When Jehan Mubarak became Shillingford’s first scalp for six, Sri Lanka A were tottering at 72 for four but Priyanjan and Vithanage put on a lively 48 for the fifth wicket to steady the innings.
The right-handed Priyanjan faced 51 balls and struck five fours and a six in an attacking innings while Vithanage, a left-hander, also cracked five fours and a six in his positive 39-ball knock.
However, Priyanjan and Niroshan Dickwella (1) fell in successive overs with just one run added, to leave West Indies A with the upper hand.
Scoreboard
SRI LANKA A 1st innings
*U Tharanga c wkp Walton b Cummins 16
D Karunaratne b Gabriel 25
M Warnapura lbw b Gabriel 7
J Mubarak c Fletcher b Shillingford 6
A Priyanjan c Cummins b Shillingford 40
K Vithanage not out 36
+N Dickwella c wkp Walton b Cummins 1
T Kaushal not out 0
Extras (nb6) 6
TOTAL (6 wkts, 34 overs) 137
To bat: N Pradeep, K Madushanka, V Fernando.
Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-44, 3-53, 4-72, 5-120, 6-121.
Bowling: Gabriel 7-2-20-2 (nb5), Cottrell 4-1-17-0, Cummins 8-1-29-2 (nb1), Brathwaite 6-2-17-0, Shillingford 9-0-54-2.
WEST INDIES A – C Brathwaite (captain), K Brathwaite, M Cummins, A Fletcher, S Gabriel, J Blackwood, S Cottrell, K Edwards, A Fudadin, C Walton, S Shillingford.
Toss: West Indies A.
Umpires: P Rambukwella, P Udawatta.
