Sri Lanka ‘A’ record comprehensive win to lead series

By M. Shamil Amit reporting
from Hambantota
Sri Lanka ‘A’ recorded a comprehensive ten wicket win against the visiting West Indies ‘A’ side in the 1st unofficial Test at the Sooriyawewa Stadium yesterday to take a 1-0 lead in the three match series.
The morning session of play on the final day lasted just over an hour with only 12 overs being bowled.  Sri Lanka ‘A’ chasing 33 runs for victory raced to the target in 4.3 overs with Jehan Mubarak making an unbeaten 21 and Dimuth Karunaratne 11.
Earlier in the day West Indies ‘A’ resuming their overnight score of 267 for 7 lasted only 7.3 overs and was able to add just 18 runs. Left arm pacie Vishwa Fernando finished off the tail getting rid of Nikita Miller who was unbeaten on 37 adding nine runs for a score of 46.
Shane Shillingford was unable to make any headway as he did not last long. He was dismissed by Fernando having added seven runs to his overnight score of 56. Two balls later Fernando ended the West Indies A innings for 285 with the wicket of Sheldon Cottrell. This left the Sri Lanka A a simple target of 33 runs for victory.  “It was a great all-round  effort put in by the team that helped Sri Lanka win the game. Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thiramanne and Dinesh Chandimal played fantastic knocks to lay the foundation for a convincing win,” said skipper Upul Tharanaga.  Later spinner Seekkuge Prasanna who ended with a match bag of nine wickets, Shaminda Eranga, Lahiru Gamage and Vishwa Fernando made things much more easier for the Lankans