Sri Lanka 'A' force a draw against West Indies
CRICKET: Stubborn resistance by the lower order enabled Sri
Lanka 'A' to force a draw against West Indies 'A' on the final day of
the opening four-day "Test" at Guaracara Park Monday.
Set a challenging victory target of 279 in 75 overs after the Windies
declared at 263 for four, the visitors ended on 235 for eight when bad
light stopped play with five of the mandatory overs remaining.
After being in dire straits on 60 for five, the Sri Lankans were
indebted to a fighting sixth-wicket partnership of 94 by Gayan Wijekoon
(58) and Kaushal Silva (37), and a 44-run eighth wicket stand by Kaushal
Loukarachchi (37 not out) and Nuwan Kalesekara (26), that saw them to
safety.
Fast bowler Richard Kelly was the pick of the bowlers with three for
28, while Ravi Rampaul (2-37) and Ryan Hinds (2-55) had two wickets
apiece.
Earlier, the West Indies 'A' resumed at its overnight 178 for three,
an overall lead of 193, with opener Devon Smith on 104 and left-handed
Ryan Hinds yet to face a ball.
The pair carried the score to 212 before Smith fell to a catch at the
wicket by Kaushal Silva off pacer Nuwan Kalesekera for 117.
The stylish left-handed Grenadian batted for 263 minutes, faced 188
balls and struck nine fours.
Guyanese left-hander Narsingh Deonarine joined Hinds and the duo
plundered the bowling to all parts of the ground in search of quick
runs.
They featured in an unbroken fifth wicket partnership of 51 in 35
minutes before the declaration came.
Both batsmen finished on 34, with Hinds' innings being compiled in 81
minutes from 54 balls with three fours, while Deonarine spent 35 minutes
at the crease and struck four fours and one six from 30 balls.
Left with 40 minutes batting before lunch after the hosts'
declaration, the tourists crashed to 21 for three at the break, losing
their first three wickets with only nine runs on the board.
Hard-hitting opener Avishka Gunawardene (1) was caught by substitute
Travis Dowlin at square-leg off the fired up Ravi Rampaul with the total
on eight.
One run later, Mahela Udawatte (5) was snapped up by wicketkeeper
Patrick Browne off Jamaican pacer Andrew Richardson, and with the score
unchanged Rampaul induced an edge from Jeevan Mendis (0) to send the Sri
Lankans reeling.
On resumption from lunch, the Sri Lankans slipped into further
trouble when Thilan Samaraweera (13) was brilliantly caught at
square-leg by Dowlin off medium-pacer Kelly with the total on 41.
More trouble brewed when Kelly had Jehan Mubarak (26) trapped in
front, with the scoreboard reading 60 for five.
Wijekoon and Silva then thwarted the efforts of the regional bowling
taking the score to 123 for five at tea.
After the break, the pair continued to deny the Windies bowlers until
the partnership was broken at 154 when Silva was caught at the wicket by
Browne off Ryan Hinds for 37.
The dapper right-hander batted for 95 minutes, faced 79 balls and
struck three fours.
Eight runs later, Wijekoon was leg before to Hinds for a well played
58, after batting for 125 minutes, facing 101 balls and striking two
fours and one six. The second and final Test is scheduled to start in
St. Kitts on Friday.
West Indies 'A' 1st innings all out 267
Sri Lanka 'A' 1st innings 252
WEST INDIES 'A' 2nd innings
D. Smith c Silva b Kulasekara 117
S. Chattergoon c Silva b Perera 06
W. Hinds b Weerakoon 29
S. Joseph c Samaraweera b Weerakoon 29
RO Hinds not out 34
N Deonarine not out 35
EXTRAS (b 3, lb 6, nb 4) 13
TOTAL (4 wickets dec; 69 overs) 263
Did not bat PA Browne, DJG Sammy, R Kelly, R Rampaul, AP Richardson
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-91, 3-178, 4-212
Bowling: N Kulasekara 17-3-63-1 (3nb), R Perera 6-1-19-1 (1nb),
S Weerakoon 16-2-68-2, J Mubarak 5-1-23-0, G Wijekoon 9-2-32-0,
K Lokuarachchi 13-5-37-0, J Mendis 3-0-12-0.
SRI LANKA A 2nd innings
A Gunawardene c sub (TM Dowlin) b Rampaul 01
M Udawatte c Browne b Richardson 05
J Mendis c Joseph b Rampaul 00
T Samaraweera c sub (TM Dowlin) b Kelly 13
J Mubarak lbw b Kelly 26
G Wijekoon lbw b RO Hinds 58
K Silva c Browne b RO Hinds 37
K Lokuarachchi not out 37
N Kulasekara c Smith b Kelly 26
S Weerakoon not out 09
EXTRAS (lb 5, w 2, nb 16) 23
TOTAL (8 wickets; 70 overs) 235
Did not bat PDRL Perera
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-9, 3-9, 4-41, 5-60, 6-154, 7-162, 8-206
Bowling: AP Richardson 13-2-32-1(6nb, 1w), R Rampaul 10-3-37-2(4nb),
R Kelly 10-2-28-3(1w), RO Hinds 20-2-55-2, DJG Sammy 4-0-17-0(1nb),
N Deonarine 9-0-34-0, WW Hinds 4-2-7-0.
POINTE-A-PIERRE, Trinidad
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