Last chance for Sri Lanka 'A'

The Sri Lanka 'A' team will have their last chance to make an impact when they take on the touring New Zealand 'A' team in the third and final 4 day unofficial test match which begins at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium today.

New Zealand 'A' are one up in the series having won the first test by seven wickets at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy and also had the better of the exchanges in the second test concluded at the Colts CC grounds, Havelock Park last week.

But the Lankans feel that they could make a comeback and level the series which will help them to redeem some of their lost prestige. This time they are all out make a match of it and are a confident lot with the conditions more suitable for the spinners.

Sri Lanka's biggest setback in the entire series has been their batting which has not performed upto expectations. Most of them got into a good start but they tend to throw their wickets away due to the lack of concentration.

Last week there was some hope with Jeewan Mendis playing the kind of innings which is required for a four day test match.

In contrast the New Zealanders have really enjoyed the series and everything seem to be going in favour of them. Altogether this has been a superb tour where they also reached the final of the triangular series before going down to South Africa 'A'.

The teams:

Sri Lanka 'A' (from): Avishka Gunawardena (captain), Ian Daniel, Upul Tharanga, Harsha Vithana, Thilina Kandamby, Prasanna Jayawardena, Jeevan Mendis, Gayan Wijekoon, Malinga Bandara, Sajeewa Weerakoon, Nuwan Soysa, Charith Jayaweera, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Kaushal Lokuarachchi. Stand byes: Gihan de Silva, Tharanga Lakshitha, Shantha Kalawitigoda, Suraj Mohamed.

New Zealand 'A' (from): P. Fulton (captain), M. Papps, J. How, M. Sinclair, J. Marshell, C. Harris, G. Hopkings, J. Franklyn, J. Patel, C. Martin, I. O'Brien, B. Martin, D. Tuffey, J. Ryder, M. Skimmings and G. Aldrich. (C.D)