Sri Lanka Emerging beat Windies, level series 1-1

By M. Shamil Amit

A quick-fire 65 ball knock of 118 inclusive of 13 boundaries and eight towering sixes by opener Sineth Jayawardena and a half ton by Vishen Helambage paved the way for Sri Lanka Emerging XI to coast to a convincing 125 runs win over the visiting West Indies Emerging XI in the second one-dayer of the three match series played at the SSC ground yesterday.

West Indies Emerging XI in pursuit of a formidable target of 361 runs was made to struggle for their runs and they fell into deep trouble with their top five batsmen back in the pavilion with the score on 128 in the 26th over before they were bowled out for 235 runs which saw the Sri Lanka Emerging XI level the series 1-1.

The morning session of play saw Sri Lanka Emerging XI invited to take first lease of the wicket piling up a score of 360 runs which came on the back of a knock of 118 by Jayawardena and 50 by Vishen Helambage.

The two gave the host side a solid start with the pair putting on 164 runs in just 97 balls. Later skipper Nipun Dhananjaya and Ranesh Silva shared a stand of 104 runs for the fourth wicket which further propelled the home team’s score.

The two sides will play the deciding third match on June 26 at the NCC ground.

Scores:

Sri Lanka Emerging XI 360 in 50 overs (Sineth Jayawardena 118, Vishen Helambage 50, N. Dhananjaya 55, Ranesh Silva 46, Dinura Kalupahana 28, Kavija Gamage 19: Zishan Motara 3/48, Jediah Bates 3/60, Nathan Edward 2/35)

West Indies Emerging XI 235 in 45.4 overs (Kevlon Anderson 63, R. Smith 32, Mavendra Dindyal 31, Shaqkere Parris 20, Rivaldo Clarke 19, Nathan Edward 32 n.o.: Akmal Fazly 3/37, Mihiranga Nimsara 3/46, Kavija Gamage 2/54)