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| Sunday, 10 July 2005 |
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Close finish likely by Ranjan Anandappa The third and decisive unofficial cricket Test between Sri Lanka 'A' and the West Indies 'A' seem to be even at the end of the penultimate day's play at the P. Sara Stadium yesterday. The visitors with a slender 12 run lead in the first innings have an overall lead of 126 runs with six second innings wickets intact with a full day's play today. The West Indies in their second innings were 114 for 4 at close with Lendl Simmons top scoring with 52 facing 107 deliveries striking six fours and a six. Paceman Nuwan Zoysa gave his side a vital breakthrough when he got the wicket of first innings centurion and skipper Darren Ganga snapped up by T. M. Dilshan for 23 when the pair looked taking control of the situation. Sri Lanka resuming from their overnight score of 181 for 3 still needing 143 runs to top the visitors score of 324 promptly stumbled to 6 for 194. Much was expected from skipper Russel Arnold who was unbeaten on 5 and Shantha Kalavitigoda who had reached a pleasing 74 n.o at the end of the second day. Kalavitigoda added just one run to his overnight score of 74 before he was caught behind by Simmons off fast bowler Washington. Then Arnold who needed another big innings and wicket keeper Prasanna Jayawardena was out in quick succession for injudicious cut shots. With that, the prospect of Sri Lanka 'A' building up an substantial total quickly disappeared. They were six wickets down for 194. Maharoof joined by Dilhara Lokuhettige batted sensibly to take the score beyond the 250 run mark. Lokuhettige in particular batted exceptionally well and did the bulk of the scoring. He and Mahroof added 59 runs in 124 balls for seventh wicket. Then disaster struck, Maharoof as he dropped his bat while running and was judged run out at the non-striker's end. Lokuhettige with support of Suraj Mohammed who batted for more than an hour for his 9 runs and Sajeeva Weerakoon with two sweetly timed cover drives denied his status as a tail-ender for a while to see Sri Lanka reaching the 300 run mark. At lunch the Lankans were 274 for 8, 79 runs added in the morning session off 39 overs. Lokuhettige was unbeaten on 57 and Mohammed on 2. Lokuhettige who was batting with grit soon fell after lunch in the second ball of the second over after lunch leg-spinner Miller got one to turn sharply and Lokuhettige was bowled around his legs without adding to his lunch time score of 57. He face 94 deliveries and struck five fours and six. With Sri Lanka approaching the 300 run mark, the second new ball was
taken at 196 for 9, but Sajeeva Weerakoon hit paceman Peters for two
boundaries before Mohammed was judged lbw to Washington for 9. |
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