By Dhammika Ratnaweera
Upul Tharanga, leading the Sri Lanka Cricket XI against the visiting West Indies in their warm-up match came up with a superb knock of 120 runs while Asela Gunaratna scored 64 as the two discards added a remarkable 199 runs for the third wicket to guide their team to victory by two wickets with 15 balls to spare at P.Sara Oval grounds on Monday.
West Indies invited to bat first made 282 all out in 49.4 overs while Sri Lanka Cricket xi reached that target in 47.3 overs with two wickets in hand.
It was Tharanga’s day at Sara grounds. He showed his normalcy with a flying start challenging the Carribean pace attack. His innings of 120 runs in 124 balls which included 16 fours and a six left the selectors perplexed as to how he has not been included in the original ODI squad against the West Indies.
Another discard Asela Gunaratna provided the supporting role adding 64 in 75 balls with 7 fours, while two inform batters in the domestic tournament Sadun Weerakkody and Pathum Nissanka failed with out scoring at first over bowled by Sheldon Cottrell, who shared two wickets with Hayden Walsh and Fabian Allen for the visiting team.
Earlier Carribian openers Shai Hope and Brandon King were back to the pavilion without scoring as Asitha Fernando and 19-year-old Dilshan Madushika took a wicket each in their first spell. However, Darren Bravo scored a hundred in 88 balls retired his innings while Nicolas Pooran made 41 retired hurt repaired the Carribean innings. Sunil Ambris also hit 41 in 68 balls to strengthen the middle order. Dilshan Madushanka the youngest bowler of the two sides was most successful with 3 for 47 including skipper Kiran Pollard and Jason Holder’s wickets while Asitha Fernando took 2 for 17 did most of the damage.
Carribians will play their second warm-up game against SLC XI on 19th at Katunayake Marian’s grounds before three one day series against Sri Lanka which will start on 22 at SSC grounds.
Chief scores
West Indies 282 all out in 49.4 overs Darren Brovo 100 retired, Nicolas Pooran 41 retired hurt, Sunil Ambris 41, Jason Holder 22, Fabian Allen 28, Asitha Fernando 2/17, Dilshan Madushika 3/47.
SLC XI 283 for 8 wickets in 47.3 overs Upul Tharanga 120, Asela Gunaratna 64,
Lahiru Udara 22, Thikshila de Silva 25, Angelo Perera 12, Sheldon Cottrell2/22, Haydon Walsh 2/52, Fabian Allen 2/62.
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