The England Lions got their Tour of Sri Lanka off to a flying start in their only warm-up game against the Sri Lanka Board President’s XI ahead of the Unofficial Test series set to start next week.
Having won the toss, the visitors opted to bat but were on the backfoot straightaway as Kavindu Pathiratne sent Lions’ skipper and England Test Cap Haseeb Hameed back for a duck in the 1st over. The 20-year-old quick trapped Tom Haines LBW not long after to leave the Lions on 18/2 in the 5th over.
However, despite having the opposition in a spot of bother, the BP XI could not capitalize as the counterattack was begun by another England Test Cap, Alex Lees and Tom Abell, who appeared for the Dambulla Aura in last season’s LPL.
The pair put on a blistering 130-run partnership in 18 overs to wrest control away from the home side, with the type of batsmanship that has become synonymous with English cricket over the last year.
5 of the 9 batters used by the Lions crossed the 50-run mark, with Lees the only one to go to three figures. Notably, Lees (107), Jack Haynes (63) and Jamie Smith (50) all went at well over a run-a-ball as the visitors declared their innings midway through the 3rd session, having amassed 413 at 6.2 runs an over.
Apart from Pathiratne, who was impressive with the new ball, the BP XI struggled to maintain any control on the English batters, conceding 27 extras not helping their cause.
The BP XI openers Lasith Croospulle and Nishan Madushka started in positive fashion as well, putting on 44 for the 1st wicket before the former fell off the bowling of Liam Patterson-White.
Madushka looked in sublime touch, ending the day on 56 off just 53 deliveries as the BP XI went to Stumps on 93/2 in 19.5 overs.
