Seventh wicket pair saves face for Lanka 'A'

Prasanna Jayawardene and Gayan Wijekoon came together in a face-saving seventh wicket stand to enable Sri Lanka 'A' finish the opening day of the second 4-day unofficial cricket test against Pakistan 'A' on 175 for six wickets at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium yesterday.

Bad light ended play 14 minutes after the tea break. Winning the toss and batting first Sri Lanka 'A' collapsed to 82-6 before Jayawardene and Wijekoon figured in an unfinished partnership of 93 off 167 balls to give the total some respectability.

Jayawardene was 59 not out scored in 146 minutes with six fours. It was his second successive half-century following an unbeaten 66 in the first 'test' at Kandy. Wijekoon who is unbeaten on 35 scored his runs in 119 minutes with three fours and a five.

Pakistan 'A' missed an opportunity of separating the pair at 128 when Rauf failed to hold onto a return catch from Jayawardene when his score was on 37.

The Sri Lanka 'A' top order once again failed to deliver against the Pakistan 'A' seam attack on a firm pitch that afforded bounce. Mohammad Asif and Najaf Shah removed the top six for just 82 runs in 29.1 overs before Jayawardene and Wijekoon staged a fightback.

The match continues today at 10 a.m.

SRI LANKA 'A' 1ST INNINGS
M. Vandort c lbw b Najaf			 19
I. Daniel c Rauf b Najaf			 18
A. Polonowita c Bazid b Asif			 17
J. Mubarak c Najaf b Asif			  1
R. Arnold c and b Imran				  7
M. Gajanayake lbw b Asif			  5
P. Jayawardene not out				 59
G. Wijekoon not out				 35
Extras (b-2, lb-6, nb-6)			 14
Total (6 wkts at close, 59.5 overs, 217 mins)	175

To bat: M. Bandara, S. Mohamed, D. Fernando.
Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-45, 3-51, 4-69, 5-73, 6-82.
Bowling: Rauf 12-1-54-0 (3nb), Najaf 14.5-1-38-2 (1nb),
         Asif 12-5-32-3, Imran 21-4-43-1 (2nb).