Rahane and Sharma warm-up for Galle Test

India got much-needed match practice as they enjoyed an advantage on all three days against the Sri Lanka Board President’s XI in the tour opener that ended in a tame draw at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday as batsman Ajinkya Rahane and fast bowler Ishant Sharma had good work-outs ahead of the first Test in Galle starting on Wdenesday.

Although the Indian batsmen managed just 180 in the second innings, the bowlers kept the pressure, restricting the hosts to 200 for six in 54 overs as they chased a huge score of 411 runs for an improbable win.

Scores:

India 351 (AM Rahane 109, S Dhawan 62, CAK Rajitha 5 for 68, J Vandersay 2 for 76) and 180 (MVT Fernando 2 for 17, CAK Rajitha 2 for 38)

Sri Lanka Board X1 121 (Milinda Siriwardena 32, Niroshan Dikwella 41, D. Gunatilleke 28, Ishant Sharma 5 for 23) and 200 for 6 (Kaushal Silva 83 not out, Upul Tharanga 52, Sachith Pathirana 25 not out)