By Chris Dhambarage
Left hander Sanjeeva Ranatunga played a captain's knock of 87 n.o., but the Sri Lanka Board President's XI collapsed to 204 for 7 on the second day of their four-day match against the touring England 'A' cricket team continued at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium yesterday.
The number three batsman held the middle order together and occupied the crease for a period of 239 minutes. He held on determinedly despite the fall of wickets at regular intervals at the other end and struck 8 boundaries while facing 161 deliveries.
The home side began their innings promisingly with opener T. M. Dilshan smashing half a dozen of boundaries during his knock of 33. Manoj Mendis too made a good start but was dismissed for 22, after having struck four boundaries.
Sanjeeva Ranatunga and Sanjeeva Silva then figured in a fourth wicket stand of 44 runs. The former reached his half century with his third boundary having occupied the crease for 110 minutes and in 94 deliveries. But the Sri Lanka Board President's XI lost wickets at regular intervals with the left-arm paceman Paul Huchison causing the damage. In addition wicket keeper Chris Read had a good day on the field and held on to four catches behind the stumps.
The England 'A' team earlier were dismissed for 353 with the pace-spin combination of Ajantha Lankatilleke and Nimesh Perera causing the damage.
Day 3: Sanjeewa Ranatunga 120 n.o. England 'A' an overall head of 349 runs
By Chris Dhambarage
England 'A' took an overall lead of 349 runs on the third day of their 4-day cricket match against the Sri Lanka Board President's XI continued at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium, yesterday.
The visitors declared their innings at 245 for 3 wickets after having dismissed the home side for 249 runs.
Steve James (56) and Nick Knight (56) gave England 'A' a good start in their second innings with an opening stand of 111 runs. Both went on to complete half centuries and set the pace for an impressive first innings total.
James struck 56 in 104 deliveries and in 155 minutes with the help of seven boundaries. His partner Nick Knight too was dismissed for the identical score of 56 having hoisted one six and struck five boundaries in 124 deliveries. In fact this was the second half century in the match for steve James having compiled 57 in their first innings.
Daooren Maddy too went on to complete twin fifties and reached his second fifty in just 65 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries. He was associated in a third wicket stand of one hundred runs with Mark Ealham who remained unbeaten on 40.
Earlier Sanjeewa Ranatunga went on to complete an unbeaten century in 309 minutes with the help of 13 boundaries. The Sri Lanka Board President's XI needing 350 runs to win the match finished the day at 2 for no loss in five overs.
Day 4: England 'A' home for tea by 177 runs
By Chris Dhambarage
The touring England 'A' team recorded a morale boosting 177-run win over the Sri Lanka Board President's XI on the final day of their 4-day cricket encounter concluded at the P.Saravanamuttu Stadium yesterday.
The home side chasing a victory target of 350 runs collapsed to 172 in 52.5 overs 45 minutes before the tea interval. The two spinners Ashley Giles and Dean Cosker did most of the damage and shared seven wickets between them. In addition the two medium pacemen James Ormond and Paul Huchison provided the back up support with some hostile bowling.
The Sri Lanka Board President's XI lost wickets quite regularly and were always under pressure after the early dismissal of first innings hero Sanjeeva Ranatunga. But Manoj Mendis batted well for his knock of 42 which came in 55 balls inclusive of seven boundaries.
The Sri Lanka Board President's XI would have collapsed for under one hundred runs if not for a spirited half century by Nimesh Perera who made a top score of 51 from the same number of deliveries with the help of ten boundaries. Along with Varuna Waragoda they put on 38 runs for the seventh wicket which was in fact the highest partnership in the innings.