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Day 2: Sri Lanka 'A' lead by 236 runs

London, Tuesday - Sri Lanka 'A' held on to an overall lead of 236 runs with six second innings wickets in hand going into the third and final day of their opening 3-day fixture against ECB XI played at Oakham School here yesterday.

By the close of the second day, Sri Lanka 'A' who made 348 for 8 declared, had dismissed the home team for 226, and replied with 114 for 4.

Highlight of the match so far has been the unbeaten century by Nimesh Perera. Coming to bat at 159 for 5, he went onto score an exciting 110 off 112 balls with the help of two sixes and 11 fours.

With Hemantha Boteju, who made 20, Perera added 104 for the seventh wicket in 88 minutes. A further stand of 64 in 45 minutes followed between Nimesh Perera and Suresh Perera, who scored 42 off 57 balls with one six and six fours.

The early batting was held together by skipper Naveed Nawaz, who justified his decision to bat first by scoring 75 off 119 balls with one six and 13 fours.

Sri Lanka 'A' fast bowlers Pushpakumara, Villavarayen and Suresh Perera took the major share of the wickets with seven between them to dismiss the ECB XI for 226.

Day 3: Sri Lanka 'A' by 64 runs

LONDON, Wednesday - Sri Lanka 'A' made a winning start to their cricket tour or England when they beat an ECB XI by 64 runs on the third and final day at Oakham School here yesterday, but will be without the services of captain Naveed Nawaz for a fortnight.

Nawaz, who scored a fluent 75 in the first innings has contracted chicken pox and will be out of action for some time. Vice-captain Russel Arnold will lead the team until he recovers.

Resuming at 114 for 4, Sri Lanka 'A' were dismissed for 143 in their second innings, leaving the home side a winning target of 266.

ECB XI were well on course for victory at 169 for one, but collapsed dramatically later in the day to the pace and leg-spin of Ravindra Pushpakumara and Nimesh Perera to lose nine wickets for 32 runs and be dismissed for 201.

Perera capped a fine all-round performance taking 4 for 25 to follow his first innings unbeaten century of 110. National team discard Pushpakumara took 4 for 48 to finish with a match bag of 7 for 120.