Sanju Samson made a strong statement, slamming a swashbuckling century on Sunday (November 12) as the two-day warm-up game between an Indian Board President’s XI and the touring Sri Lankans at the Jadavpur University Campus ground in Kolkata ended in a draw.
Sri Lanka’s tour of India started on a positive note with four of their batsmen slamming half-centuries on the first day, helping them declare on a strong 411 for 6.
In their only warm-up game before the first Test starting at the Eden Gardens on November 16, the visitors gave all the members of their squad apart from Niroshan Dickwella, the wicketkeeper, a bowl. The Board President’s XI responded with 287 for 5 in 75 overs when the game was called off by mutual consent.
The Board XI were rocked early on day two when they lost Tanmay Agarwal (16) and Anmolpreet Singh (3) in quick succession to the occasional medium pace of Lahiru Thirimanne with just 31 runs on the board.
Jiwanjot Singh, the other opener, and Samson then strung together a 68-run partnership for the third wicket before the former was caught behind off Dilruwan Perera’s offspin for 35.
Samson then found another able partner in Rohan Prem (39), his Kerala teammate, and the duo dug its heels while carving out 71 for the fourth wicket.
Samson, the Board XI skipper, raced to his century off just 123 deliveries and was eventually the fifth batsman to be dismissed, caught behind by Dickwella off Sadeera Samarawickrama for a 143-ball 128. His innings was laced with 19 fours and a six.
B Sandeep (33) and Jalaj Saxena (20) played out the remaining overs, before the match was called off.
Sri Lanka started their tour of India on a positive note with four of their batsmen scoring half-centuries on the first day of the two-day warm-up game against Board President’s XI at the Jadavpur University Campus ground in Kolkata. By stumps on Saturday (November 11), Sri Lankans had declared their innings on 411 for 6 in 88 overs.
There were contributions from Sadeera Samarawickrama, who made a strong case for the opening slot by top-scoring with 74 off 77, and Niroshan Dickwella, who retired on 53 before resuming in the 80th over and going on to score an unbeaten 73 off 59.
Sanju Samson, the BP XI captain, won the toss and opted to bowl first, but Sri Lankans made a strong start courtesy Samarawickrama and Dimuth Karunaratne. Both openers hit half-centuries during their 134-run stand in just 23.3 overs before Samarawickrama, who made his Test debut in the second and final Test against Pakistan in Dubai last month, fell to Avesh Khan. Karunaratne retired after scoring 50 off 62.
With two new batsmen, Lahiru Thirimane and Angelo Mathews, in the middle, Sri Lankans’ scoring rate dipped. Thirimanne perished for 17, caught by Jiwanjot Singh off Akash Bhandari, the legspinner.
Dinesh Chandimal, the Sri Lanka captain, retired after a patient 29. Mathews, who missed the entire series against Pakistan due to a calf strain, got some much-needed time out in the middle as he scored 54 off 93, with six fours, before retiring at tea with Sri Lankans on 254 for 2.
Jalaj Saxena struck soon after the break, removing Dasun Shanaka cheaply, but Dilruwan Perera and Dickwella ensured Sri Lankans crossed the 300-run mark.
Once Dickwella retired after his half-century, Dilruwan (48) and Roshen Silva (36 not out) kept the innings chugging along. It was only after Sri Lanka lost their sixth wicket that Dickwella walked out to bat again. He went on to score 73 off just 59, studded with 13 fours, as Sri Lanka declared after crossing 400.
Sri Lanka had little trouble negotiating the bowling attack of BP XI that comprised of players from teams not involved in the ongoing fifth round of the Ranji Trophy 2017-18. Sandeep Warrier, the Kerala pacer, and Bhandari took two wickets apiece.
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