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De Saram steadies Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka A (193-5) bt Gloucestershire (189-9) by 5 wkts

Having played five consecutive days of highly competitive cricket, and with another crucial championship match starting tomorrow, Gloucestershire fielded less than their strongest side. But that should not detract from the Sri Lankans' fourth win in five matches, which they completed with seven overs to spare.

At one stage there was the prospect of the county being routed. Having elected to bat, they were 40 for six after 18 overs. They came through this crisis and stayed in the contest thanks to Dominic Hewson, who revelled in his return to his old school ground - alongside his contemporary, Michael Cawdron - to score 64 off 89 balls, with seven fours.

Hewson had noble support from Reggie Williams and then from Martin Ball, who made a swashbuckling 51, with two fours and two sixes over the short boundary on the gymnasium side. They added 68 from 15 overs.

Keen and accurate bowling by seamers Indika Gallage and Mario Villavayaren won the tourists their early initiative, although erratic bounce off the pitch contributed to Gloucestershire's plight. Matt Windows and Jeremy Snape were snared by balls that kept low.

The Sri Lankan fielding was razor sharp, with Russell Arnold's slip catch to claim Robert Dawson being its high point.

Sri Lanka's reply started with a stutter. Ben Gannon bowled a hostile first spell and three wickets were gone in 10 overs for only 26 runs, including that of Arnold, the only Test player in the line-up.

But order was restored by an innings of high quality from Indika de Saram, whose 75 off 86 balls with 10 fours, held out promise of a bright future. He had reliable allies in Shanta Kalavitigoda and Chamara Silva, who stayed to see the job completed.

Tour Match (Cheltenham): Gloucestershire 189-9 (50 overs; DR Hewson 64, MCJ Ball 51); Sri Lanka A 193-5 (43 overs; I de Saram 75). Sri Lanka A won by 5 wkts.