West Indies 'A' hit back

CRICKET: Sri Lanka 'A' threatened to take a firm grip of the second unofficial "Test" thanks to their batsmen but West Indies 'A' struck back late in the day to put the match in the balance at the Warner Park Stadium Saturday.

Mahela Udawatte, Avishka Gunawardene and captain Thilan Samaraweera all cracked half-centuries as the visitors reached 202 for four at the close, in reply to the West Indies' 358 all out.

Revelling in ideal batting conditions, Udawatte struck 76 and Gunawardene stroked 55, and shared in an attractive opening stand of 103 to put the visitors on course for their target.

Udawatte and Samaraweera, unbeaten on 51 at the close, then posted 85 for the third wicket before two wickets fell late in the day, handing back the West Indians some of the advantage.

Placed at 12 without loss at lunch, Udawatte and Gunawardene flourished after the break as they batted positively against the West Indies bowlers.

Udawatte struck 10 boundaries, facing 166 balls in 265 minutes at the crease while Gunawardene hammered seven fours in 77 balls and 121 minutes.

Left-arm spinner Ryan Hinds finally broke the stand when he trapped Gunawardene leg before wicket. Medium pacer Darren Sammy quickly disposed of new batsman Malintha Warnapura, caught and bowled for two, to leave Sri Lanka at 106 for two.

Samaraweera, however, joined Udawatte to steer their side to safety. The 30-year old Samaraweera, with 39 Tests behind him, stroked seven fours from 108 balls in 145 minutes at the crease.

Sri Lanka seemed set to close the day in a strong position but Udawatte fell via the run out route and Ryan Hinds then had Russell Arnold caught at slip by Sammy for a duck, as the visitors stumbled to 197 for four. Hinds has been the best West Indies bowler with two for 44.

Earlier, Ravi Rampaul slammed a pugnacious 64 as the Windies pushed on from their overnight position of 274 for eight. Rampaul blasted four fours and four sixes from just 61 balls, before the innings folded for the addition of 84 runs.

Fast bowler Malinga Bandara captured four for 100 while medium pacer Nuwan Kulasekera finished with three for 38. (BASSETERRE, St. Kitts)

WEST INDIES ‘A’ 
1ST INNINGS

D.S. Smith c Silva b Wijekoon 		69
W.W. Hinds c Silva b Kulasekara 	 5
T.M. Dowlin c Silva b Kulasekara 	 3 
S.C. Joseph c & b Bandara 		59
R.O. Hinds c Samaraweera b Wijekoon 	12
N. Deonarine c Silva b Amerasinghe 	55 
P.A. Browne lbw b Bandara 		 0 
D.J.G. Sammy c Mubarak b Bandara 	48 
R. Kelly lbw b Kulasekara 		 5 
R. Rampaul not out 			64 
A.P. Richardson lbw b Bandara 		19 
Extras (b 5, lb 6, w 1, nb 7) 		19

TOTAL (all out; 108.3 overs) 		358
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-30, 2-41, 3-129, 4-143, 5-178, 
6-178, 7-258, 8-270, 9-274. 
BOWLING: K.M.D.N. Kulasekara 15-6-38-3, 
M.K.D.I. Amerasinghe 21-2-71-1, 
G. Wijekoon 17-2-70-2, C.M. Bandara 26.3-1-100-4, 
R.P. Arnold 27-6-63-0, J. Mubarak 2-0-5-0.  
 
SRI LANKA A 
1ST INNINGS

D.A. Gunawardene lbw b R.O. Hinds 	55 
M.L. Udawatte run out 			76
B.S.M. Warnapura c & b Sammy 		 2 
T.T. Samaraweera not out 		51 
R.P. Arnold c Sammy b R.O. Hinds 	 0 
J. Mubarak not out 			 2 
Extras (lb 2, w 2, nb 12) 		16
TOTAL (4 wickets; 65 overs) 		202
TO BAT: C.M. Bandara, G. Wijekoon, K.M.D.N. Kulasekara, 
M.K.D.I. Amerasinghe, J.K. Silva. 
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-103, 2-106, 3-196, 4-197
BOWLING: A.P. Richardson 11-2-44-0, R. Rampaul 12-0-49-0, 
R. Kelly 8-1-23-0, D.J.G. Sammy 12-2-27-1, R.O. Hinds 15-1-44-2, 
W.W. Hinds 3-2-4-0, N. Deonarine 4-1-9-0.