Editorial

Security

Politics

World

Letters

Sports

Obituaries

Archives

SA'ADI THAWFEEQ reporting from Dambulla

DAMBULLA, February 16 - Kenya set a daunting target of 404 for victory in a minimum of 109 overs by Sri Lanka 'A', made a confident start to their run chase ending the penultimate day at 61 for no wicket in the third and final unofficial cricket Test at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium here today.

Kennedy Otieno was unbeaten on 31 scored off 61 balls and Ravindu Shah on 27 off 51 balls. They have each hit five fours. Kenya require a further 343 runs off a minimum of 90 overs tomorrow, the final day, if they are to make a match of it. Considering how the Kenyans have batted in the series so far, the task looks completely beyond them.

They have not lasted for more than 80 overs and not made more than 220, barring the first innings of the first 'Test'. But cricket can be a funny game and if their batsmen can show the same application, Upul Chandana and Prasanna Jayawardene did during the Sri Lanka 'A' second innings, they could even escape with a honourable draw.

The three-Test series is already lost, with Sri Lanka 'A' taking an unbeatable 2-0 lead by winning the first two 'Tests' by convincing margins, but Kenya could push their morale high for the one-day series starting next Wednesday if they can save this match.

If by some chance the Kenyans hold out for a draw, the Sri Lankans will be left to rue having delayed their second innings declaration until 51 minutes into the final session today. When they finally did declare at 361 for eight wickets, it left them with only 19 overs at the Kenyan openers who negotiated them quite successfully on a pitch which is slow but not impracticable to bat on.

Resuming at 125 for three, Sri Lanka 'A' were pushed onto the back foot when Kenya grabbed the wickets of Tillekeratne Dilshan and Chamara Silva within the first 46 minutes of play. At 142 for 5 the home side looked a bit shaky. Sri Lanka finally made 361 for 8 wickets in their second innings.

SRI LANKA 'A' - 1ST INNINGS 262
KENYA - 1ST INNINGS 220
SRI LANKA 'A' - 2ND INNINGS
(overnight 125-3)
D. A. Gunawardana c Odumbe b C. Obuya		40
U. A. Fernando c C. Obuya b Angara		61
M. G. Vandort c Odumbe b Ogondo			 3
T. M. Dilshan c Otieno b Angara			 8 
L. P. C. Silva run out				17
U. D. U. Chandana c sub b Odumbe		73 
H. A. P. W. Jayawardene not out			75
M. Pushpakumara c Odumbe b Ogondo		45
P. W. Gunaratne lbw b Angara			 1
R. K. B. Herath not out				26
Extras (B-6, LB-3, NB-2, W-1)			12
TOTAL (8 wkts decl., 102 overs)		       361

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-76, 2-91, 3-111, 4-126, 5-142, 
	        6-234, 7-303, 8-311.

BOWLING:M. Suji 4-0-22-0 (NB-1), 
	Angara 25-8-70-3, 
	Tikolo 12-1-41-0, 
	C.Obuya 21-1-101-1 (W-1), 
	Ogondo 19-5-52-2 (NB-1), 
	Patel 3-0-10-0, 
	Odumbe 17-4-48-1, 
	Shah 1-0-8-0.

KENYA - 2ND INNINGS
K. O. Otieno not out				31
R. D. Shah not out				27
Extras (LB-3)					 3
TOTAL (no loss at close, 19 overs)		61

BOWLING:Perera 3-1-12-0, 
	Gunaratne 3-1-9-0, 
	Fernando 2-0-7-0, 
	Herath 4-2-15-0, 
	Chandana 5-1-11-0,
	Pushpakumara 2-1-4-0.   
UMPIRES: G. Silva and D. A. S. Dissanayake, 
Match Referee: A. W. R. Madurasinghe.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager