Sri Lanka ‘A’ - New Zealand ‘A’: Dilum steers Sri Lanka ‘A’ to series win

By M. Shamil Amit

Sri Lanka ‘A’, spearheaded by left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera, who bagged four scalps, and supported by right-arm pacie Mohamed Shiraz and right-arm spinner Ramesh Mendis, who together shared four wickets, combined to steer Sri Lanka to record a convincing innings and 109-run win over New Zealand ‘A’ in the 2nd unofficial Test match concluded at the Galle International Stadium yesterday.

The final day’s play saw New Zealand ‘A’, resuming from their overnight score of 45/4 and needing a further 168 runs to avoid an innings defeat, succumb to the bowling trio, and they were able to add only another 59 runs, and they lasted only 18.2 overs and were bundled out for a paltry score of 104 runs. 

The foundation for the win was laid by Kamil Mishara, who slammed a knock of 174 in 168 balls, inclusive of 19 boundaries and two sixes, while Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Sonal Dinusha and Nuwanidu Fernando cracked half tons which helped Sri Lanka ‘A’ to amass a formidable score of 518 runs in reply to New Zealand A’s score of 305 runs, and with the win, Sri Lanka ‘A’ clinched the two-match series 1-0.

Earlier Sri Lanka ‘A’ made a clean sweep of the three-match ODI series with a 3-0 win.

Result:

At Galle - Sri Lanka ‘A’ won by innings and 109 runs 

New Zealand ‘A’ 305 (Matthew Boyle 102, Curtis Heaphy 59, Max Chu 27, Ryys Mariu 22, Simon Keene 20; Dilum Sudeera 6/107, Ramesh Mendis 3/103) and (45/4 overnight) 104 (Max Chu 35, Peter Younghusband 17; Dilum Sudeera 4/38, Mohamed Shiraz 2/27, Ramesh Mendis 2/33)

Sri Lanka ‘A’ 518 (Kamil Mishara 174, Lahiru Udara 61, Nishan Madushka 57, Nuwanidu Fernando 55, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 43, Dilum Sudeera 24, Dulaj Samuditha 18, Sonal Dinusha 60 n.o.; Michael Rae 2/35, Simon Keene 2/73, Tim Pringle 2/144)