Lahiru Thirimanne ‘ton’ takes SLC Board XI to 278/3
Chris Dhambarage
Uncapped left hander Lahiru Thirimanne slammed a magnificent century
for Sri Lanka Cricket XI as the touring Pakistan team struggled on the
opening day of their three-day warm up match which commenced at the
Colts Cricket Club ground in Havelock Park yesterday.
The former Sri Lanka youth player grabbed the opportunity in his very
first attempt to stamp his class with a fighting knock of 116 on a rain
interrupted day as the home side piled up a formidable 278 for 3 in
their first innings having elected to bat first.
The 19-year-old stylish middle order batsman got the maximum out of a
gloomy day where play was interrupted thrice for bad weather. But more
than the weather it was the innings of Lahiru Thirimanne that really
frustrated the Pakistan team who are scheduled to play their first of
three Test matches against Sri Lanka on Saturday at the Galle
International Stadium.
Thirimanne made his intentions quite clear from the start and decided
to play the anchor role soon after the early dismissal of opener
Tharanga Paranavithana in the eighth over of the innings. Thirimanna
reached his century with a single off Kaneria having occupied the crease
for 190 minutes and was studded with two sixes and seven boundaries.
Thirimanna was also associated in a third wicket partnership of 170
runs off 34.2 overs along with Chamara Kapugedera who dominated the
final session with an explosive innings.
The aggressive right hander batted with more authority and did not
mind hoisting Kaneria for two successive sixes.
And when play ended early due to heavy rain and bad light Kapugedera
had raced to 90 not out from 120 balls inclusive of three sixes and
seven boundaries. Although the conditions were more suitable for the
seamers Pakistan rallied around through their spinners with Danish
Kaneria and Saeed Ajmal doing the bulk of the bowling.
Leg spinner Kaneria struck a crucial blow in his seventh over when he
deceived opener Upul Tharanga with a clever delivery. The stylish left
hander of course was well set to make a huge impact in his attempt to
regain his position in the Sri Lankan team having played his last test
match against England in Galle two years ago.
He reached his half century with a neat on drive for a couple of runs
having struck six boundaries. But in the very next delivery Tharanga was
well beaten by the flight of Danish Kaneria and offered a simple catch
to Mohammad Yousuf who is making a comeback into the Pakistan team along
with Abdul Razzaq.
SRI LANKA CRICKET XI 1ST INNINGS
Upul Tharanga c Mohammad Yousuf b Danish Kaneria 50
Tharanga Paranavithana c Kamran Akmal b Abdur Rauf 6
Lahiru Thirimanna c Aamer b Fawad Alam 116
Chamara Kapugedera not out 90
Thilina Kandamby not out not out 0
Extras (1b, 6lb, 7nb, 2w) 16
TOTAL (for 3 wickets in 66 overs) 278
Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-105, 3-274.
To bat: Gihan Rupasinghe, Kaushal Silva, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara,
Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Suraj Mohamed, Nuwan Pradeep and Milinda Siriwardena.
Bowling: Mohammed Aamer 8-1-26-0, Abdur Rauf 9-0-38-1, Abdul Razzaq 9-0-43-0,
Younis Khan 4-0-17-0, Danish Kaneria 15-2-73-1, Saeed Ajmal 18-3-61-0, Fawad Alam 3-0-13-1.
Pakistan team: Younis Khan (captain), Salman Butt, Khurram Manzoor, Mohammed Yousuf, Kamran Akmal,
Misbah ul Haq, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammed Aamer, Danish Kneria, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rauf, Faisal Iqbal, Fawad Alam. |
