Dhananjaya and Sandakan secure win

DERBY: Sri Lanka A spearheaded by a 70-ball century from Dhananjaya de Silva warmed up for the upcoming one-day tri-series against Pakistan A and England Lions with a convincing seven wickets win over Derbyshire in a 50-over night match played at the county ground here on Friday.

De Silva slammed 17 fours and two sixes in his knock of 119 which came off 81 balls as Sri Lanka A successfully chased down Derbyshire's total of 281-7 in 43 overs to win with 64 balls to spare. Sri Lanka A were provided with a splendid platform to launch their run chase with De Silva and Niroshan Dickwella (67 off 47 balls, 10 fours, 1 six) putting together an opening stand of 161 off 17 overs.From there onwards it was plain sailing for the tourists reaching their target of 282 in the 33rd over.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa was unbeaten on 48 scored off 28 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes) when victory was achieved.

Earlier Derbyshire invited to bat first built their total around opener Ben Slater's innings of 124 off 118 balls (16 fours), No other batsmen made more than 44 as Lakshan Sandakan picked up five wickets for 40 runs with his slow left-arm chinamen to record his first five-for in a limited-over match.

Sri Lanka A play Pakistan A in the opening match of the one-day tri-series at Cheltenham on July 18.

Scores: Derbyshire 281-7 in 43 overs (W Durston 32, B Slater 124, T Wood 44, R Hemmings 25 n.o., L Sandakan 5/40) Sri Lanka A 284-3 in 32.2 overs (N Dickwella 67, Dhananjaya de Silva 119, M

Udawatte 22, B Rajapaksa 48 n.o.)