Henry takes Chairman’s XI to 390/4 on day one
Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from Australia
A confidently carved out unbeaten big hundred 172 by left handed
opener Scott Henry who was involved in two big partnerships helped the
Chairman’s X1 to a massive first innings score of 390 for 4 at the close
on day one against Sri Lanka.
Henry has so far hit 22 fours and two sixes in his innings batting
the full day. Keeping him company was Travis Head on 35.
Henry was involved in two big stands with Usman Khawja 158 for the
second wicket and 125 for the 4th wicket with Glen Maxwell. It was
Maxwell the Aussie Twenty20 basher who set the innings alight hitting 11
fours and 2 sixes.
Maxwell is a stylish batsman and excels in the cover drive and has
the ideal temperament for limited-over cricket. He will be seen in the
two Twenty20s against Sri Lanka later next month.
The Manuka Oval in Canberra looks a picture with lovely stands round
the ground, but sadly spectators were missing. The conditions were
pleasant when the two skippers Usman Khawaja and Mahela Jayawardene
walked out to spin the coin. Khawaja won the toss and elected to bat on
a wicket that looked best for batting.
The encounter was a 12-a-isde game, unlike the usual 11-a-side and it
gave both sides the opportunity to give their players a workout.
With the Australian Test wickets known to be pace friendly, the
Lankans gave four of their five pacemen – Chanaka Welegedera, Nuwan
Pradeep, Dhammika Prasad and Shamindra Eranga the opportunity to stake
their claims for inclusion in the Test team. The paceman left out was
Nuwan Kuleskera who is expected to spearhead the attack.
Also rested were three other regulars, vice captain Angelo Mathews,
Thilan Samaraweera and Rangana Herath. Jayewardene gave of spinner Suraj
Randiv a log bowl.
Our new ball bowlers don’t have the speed to extract life from the
fast and bouncy Australian pitches. The only man who could have been
troublesome was Dilhara Fernando.
But sadly he is not on tour. In the morning session, the cricket had
nothing exciting and the Chairman’s X1 lost their first wicket that of
Marcus Harris for 20 with the score on 47. Harris attempted to cut
Shamindra Eranga and lollied to Tillekeratne Dilshan at point.
Usman Khawaja challenging for a place in the Australian squad came in
and along with Scott Henry who was going well took the team to lunch on
94 for one with Henry on 65 and Khawja on 9.
Khawja who is one of the strong challengers for a Test recall to fit
into Ponting’s vacancy, started off very slowly, but put more life into
his innings after lunch. He cut and pulled and hit two sixes and 9 fours
before scooping Welegedera to Jayewardene at short mid on for 56.
His innings did not suggest that he was a man in form and who could
be a good replacement for Ponting. There was no urgency in the left
hander’s stroke play and it did not earn him a recall.
Left hander Scott Henry was in better form, timing the ball
beautifully, cutting and pulling with confidence and when on 96, off
drove Dhammika Prasad to the boundary to reach a grand century.
At the stroke of tea the Chairman’s X1 lost another challenging for
Ponting’s spot Alex Doolan when he was bowled by off spinner Suraj Radiv
for 6 and hit his chances of catching the eyes of the selectors for six.
He started off well with a sweetly driven four, but thereafter slowed
down and could not bat the way he would have liked.
Manuka Oval, Canberra, Thursday.
Chairman's XI
1st Innings
S. Henry not out 172
M. Harris c Dilshan b Eranga 20
U. Khawaja c Jayawardene b Welegedara 56
A. Doolan b Randiv 6
G. Maxwel lb Pradeep 91
T. Head not out 35
Extras (b5, lb3, nb2) 10
Total (4 wkts; 90 overs) 390
Fall of wickets: 1-47 (Harris), 2-170 (Khawaja), 3-193 (Doolan), 4-318 (Maxwell)
Bowling: Welegedara 21-4-76-1 (1nb), Eranga 13-8-22-1 (1nb),
Prasad 15-1-101-0, Randiv 23-1-121-1, Dilshan 3-0-9-0, Pradeep 15-4-53-1
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