Sri Lanka 'A' - New Zealand 'A' ends in a draw

BY CHRIS Dhambarage

JEEWAN Mendis hit a fighting unbeaten half century as Sri Lanka 'A' struggled to force a draw to their second 4 day unofficial test match against the touring New Zealand 'A' team concluded at the Colts grounds, Havelock Park yesterday.

The stylish left hander batted with a great amount of determination and helped his team finish the day on 126 for 5 in their second innings after the visitors had earlier made 197 runs. Mendis remained unbeaten on 57 having faced 146 balls and occupied the crease for more than two sessions.

He also figured in an unfinished sixth wicket partnership of 59 runs along with all rounder Gayan Wijekoon. Jeewan Mendis after having being left out from the first test in Kandy, took this opportunity to make his presence felt as he deprived the Kiwis of a possible victory after they had slumped to 32 for 4 at one stage.

The two New Zealand opening bowlers Chris Martin and Warren McSkimming were on fire having got rid off both Sri Lanka 'A' openers quite cheaply. Left arm spinner Bruce Martin also struck early in his opening spell and New Zealand 'A' were in with an outside chance of forcing a victory.

Sri Lanka 'A' fell into deep trouble shortly after lunch when wicket keeper batsman Prasanna Jayawardena departed for a painstaking knock of 14 having batted for 63 minutes.

However Jeewan Mendis and Gayan Wijekoon batted with a real purpose and held on determinedly while frustrating the New Zealand bowlers for nearly two sessions.

Earlier Sri Lanka 'A' did well to dismiss their opponents for 197 runs with Nuwan Soysa returning the best figures of 4 for 34.

The paceman picked up the first two wickets of the day including the prize scalp of skipper Peter Foulton who could not add a run to his overnight score of 72. The third and final 4 day unofficial test begins on Wednesday at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium.

SRI LANKA 'A' - 1ST INNINGS 165 
NEW ZEALAND 'A' - 1ST INNINGS 

Craig Cumming c Jayawardena b Wijekoon 	1 
Michael Papps c Gunawardena b Soysa 	11 
Jesse Rider b Soysa 			20 
Mathew Sinclair lbw b Jayaweera 		6 
Peter Fulton c Jayawardena b Soysa 	72 
Chris Harris lbw b Wijekoon 		24 
Garath Hopkings c Jayawardena b Soysa 	22 
Paul Wiseman lbw b Wijekoon 		3 
Warren McSkimming c and b Weerakoon 	19 
Bruce Martin c Kandamby b Lokuarachchi	5 
Chris Martin not out 			7 

Extras (2NB, 5LB) 			7 

TOTAL (all out) 			197 

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-32, 2-32, 3-33, 4-46, 5-102, 6-161, 7-162, 8-176, 9-186. 

BOWLING: Soysa 16-5-34-4, Wijekoon 19-5-45-3, Weerakoon 17.2-4-36-1, 
	Jayaweera 9-2-33-1, Lokuarachchi 14-3-38-1, Daniel 2-0-6-0. 

SRI LANKA 'A' - 2ND INNINGS 

Avishka Gunawardena c Cumming b McSkimming 	11 
Ian Daniel c Hopkings b C. Martin 		3 
Upul Tharanga c Harris b B. Martin 		7 
Jeewan Mendis not out 			57 
Thilina Kandambi c Hopkings b C. Martin 		3 
Prasanna Jayawardena lbw b B. Martin 		14 
Gayan Wijekoon not out 			16 

Extras (12B, 2LB, 1NB) 			15 

TOTAL (for 5 wickets) 				126 

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-15, 2-19, 3-28, 4-32, 5-67. 
BOWLING: C. Martin 9.4-2-26-2, W. McSkimming 7-1-15-1, P. Wiseman 18-6-24-1, 
	B. Martin 19-5-43-1, C. Harris 1-0-1-0, J. Rider 1-0-2-0, M. Papps 1-0-2-0.