Rain curtails Lanka's tour opener

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE from New Zealand

CRICKET: The four-day limb loosener between Sri Lanka and Otago ended in a tame draw when rain curtailed play on the final day at the university ground here, today.

The Sri Lankans continuing from the overnight score of 240 for 2, declared after adding another 164 runs and losing two wickets, that of Kumar Sangakkara for 20 and Mahela Jayawardena for 67.

Set a target of 542 for victory, Otago were 46 for 2 when the game was called off with no result in sight.

After the loss of Sangakkara and Jayawardena, Dilshan who is struggling for runs, showed good form middling the ball well and the way he was going showed that he is returning to form which should have gladdened the hearts of the selectors.

Chamara Silva who had a good knock in the first innings and who is challenging strongly for a Test spot was once again in the runs, remaining unbeaten on 37 when the declaration was made.

Jayawardena had 9 fours and 2 sixes, while Dilshan hit 9 fours and a six and Silva used the long handle to slam 2 fours and four sixes in a 24-ball innings.

The Sri Lankans had a good workout in this game, with the batsmen and bowlers doing their thing and the manner in which they were performing, they seem to be in a good frame what with the First Test beginning on Thursday.

SRI LANKA - 1ST INNINGS 413
OTAGO - 1ST INNINGS 276
SRI LANKA - 2ND INNINGS
overnight 240 for 2
K. Sangakkara c Broom b Smith	20
M. Jayawardena b McCallcum	67
T. Dilshan not out		67
C. Silva not out		37
Extras				20
TOTAL (for 4 wkts dec.)		404
FALL: 190, 219, 241, 327.
BOWLING: M. Harvie 13-1-42-0, G. S. Shaw 10-0-60-0, 
B. Scott 21-1-73-1, N. McCallum 23-0-105-1, C. Smith 10-0-43-1, 
A. Redmond 9-1-61-0, N. Brown 1-0-7-0.
OTAGO - 2ND INNINGS
J. Sheed c Jayawardena b Maharoof	 1
C. Cumming not out			 8
S. Haig lbw Ganegama			18
G. Todd not out				10
Extras 					 9
TOTAL (for 2 wkts)			46
FALL: 1, 33.
BOWLING: L. Malinga 4-1-6-0, F. Maharoof 6-3-7-1, 
D. Fernando 5-0-29-0, A. Ganegama 2.2-0-3-1.               
DUNDEIN, Sunday