Jayawardene (143), Mubarak (80), Bandara (79) hit top form

Skipper Jehan Mubarak hit timely form and with his deputy Prasanna Jayawardene who stroked a brilliant century steered Sri Lanka 'A' to an imposing position at the end of an absorbing third day of the second 4-day unofficial cricket test against Pakistan 'A' at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium yesterday.

With his side reeling at 16-3, Mubarak joined nightwatchman Suraj Mohamed when play began and gradually got on top of the Pakistan 'A' bowling which had at one time threatened to run through the batting as they had in the first innings.

Although Mohamed left with his score on 15, Mubarak found a superb ally in his vice-captain and the pair completely turned tables on Pakistan 'A's hope of victory which looked a possibility at the end of the second day when Sri Lanka 'A' led by only seven runs with seven wickets in hand.

They added 81 for the seventh wicket in 96 minutes before Mubarak was tragically run out for 80 by a direct hit from Hasan Raza as Jayawardene called him for a sharp single. The tall left-hander batted for 206 minutes and his innings contained 15 sparkling fours.

Following the captain's dismissal, Pakistan 'A' grabbed two quick wickets to reduce Sri Lanka 'A' to 177-8, but Malinga Bandara had other ideas. He joined Jayawardene in a massive ninth wicket partnership that produced 171 exciting runs in 104 minutes to take Sri Lanka 'A' to safety. Bandara struck 10 fours in making 79 off 115 balls, but the day's batting belonged to Jayawardene.

For the Lankan 'A' wicket-keeper this series has been one of personal triumph. He started it with an unbeaten 66 at Asgiriya and followed it up with a fighting 59 in the first innings. Yesterday he came to the wicket with Sri Lanka 'A' facing defeat at 96-6 and was last man out at 403.

Jayawardene had been showing a lot of promise throughout and he displayed his entire repertoire of strokes to make a career best 143 off 171 balls.

In the 281 minutes he stayed at the wicket he stroked 18 fours in an immaculate display of batting. Pakistan 'A' faces a daunting victory target of 395 runs off a minimum of 98 overs on the final day today.

SRI LANKA 'A' - 1ST INNINGS  225 
PAKISTAN 'A' - 1ST INNINGS  234 

SRI LANKA 'A' - 2ND INNINGS
(Overnight  16-3) 
M. Vandort c Zulqarnain b Najaf  		01 
I. Daniel b Asif   				07 
A. Polonowita lbw b Najaf 			00 
S. Mohamed c Ather b Asif			15 
J. Mubarak run out  			80 
R. Arnold c Zulqarnain b Rauf  		20 
M. Gajanayake c Zulqarnain b Rauf 		00 
P. Jayawardene c Imran b Najaf  		143  
G. Wijekoon b Imran   			00 
M. Bandara c Misbah b Najaf  		79 
D. Fernando not out 			23 
Extras (b-17, lb-11, nb-6, w-1) 		35
TOTAL (all out, 89.5 overs, 416 mins) 	403

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-2, 2-2, 3-16, 4-53, 5-96, 6-96, 
7-177,  8-177, 9-348, 10-403.
BOWLING: Asif 21-2-100-2 (1w, 2nb), Najaf 17.5-2-78-4,  
Imran 26-4-94-1, Rauf 15-2-70-2 (4nb), 
Zaidi 9-0-24-0, Raza  1-0-9-0.