Sri Lanka ‘A’ in six wicket win

Ranjan ANANDAPPA

Sri Lanka ‘A’ squared the five match ODI series 2-2 defeating England Lions by six wickets in the fourth limited overs match played at the R Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama yesterday.

The unofficial ODI series between the two sides has left the fifth and final match interestingly poised when they meet on Monday at the same venue.

England Lions were sent into bat on a slow wicket and their openers S R Patel (50) off 47 deliveries with seven fours and A D Hales (62) off 67 deliveries with 5 fours and 2 sixes put on 85 runs for the first wicket in 13.3 overs. With the Lankans going in for an all spin attack with Danushka Gunatileka, Seekuge Prasanna and Malinga Bandara the Englismen could not really dominate the bowling and lost wickets at regular intervals and was finally all out for 204 in 42.1 overs.

Sri Lanka ‘A’ in their run chase were given an impressive start by openers Dimuth Karunaratne (45) with four boundaries facing sixty deliveries and Danushka Gunatileka (41) putting on 84 runs in 19.2 overs. Thereafter Ashan Priyanjana (37), skipper Thilina Kandamby (20) and Kusal Janith Perera (16 n.o) saw the Lankans going past the victory target.

Brief scores.

England Lions: 204 in 42.1 overs (S R Patel 50, A D Hales 62, J Taylor 12, J M Bairstow 13, C R Woakes 28, S Prasana 3 for 43, Malinga Bandara 3 for 41, M Gunatileka 2 for 43).

Sri Lanka ‘A’: 206 for 4 in 42.1 overs (D Karunaratne 45, Danushka Gunatileka 41, Ashan Priyanjana 37, Bhanuka Rajapakse 15, Thilina Kandamby 20 n.o, Kusal Janith Perera 16 n.o, S R Patel 2 for 45).