Sri Lanka A team comprehensively defeated New Zealand Winter Training squad in their two warm-up one-day games played at Lincoln, Christchurch on 1st and 2nd of October.
2nd match on 2nd October – Sri Lanka A won by 7 wickets
Danushka Gunathilake stroked a delightful century to help Sri Lanka A chase down 270 in the second warm-up match.
Ashan Priyanjan won the toss and elected to field first. The home team was 86 for 5 at one stage with right-arm seamer Nisala Tharaka taking 4 wickets to help the Sri Lankans. Left-hander Mitchell Santner made a cracking counter-attacking 110 in 96 balls as the hosts’ recovered to post 270 on the board.
The visitors in their chase got off to a decent start with Danushka Gunathilake and Dhananjaya De Silva putting 146 for the opening wicket in 29 overs before De Silva was dismissed by leg-spinner Ish Sodhi for a well-compiled 86 off 91 balls.
Danushka continued his good form as he reached his century before retiring out. He scored 106 in 120 balls with 11 fours and 4 sixes. Kithruwan Vithanage made his 2nd half-century in 2 days to help Sri Lanka A reach the target in the 46th over.
NZC Winter Training XI – 270/9 in 50 overs: Mitchell Santner 110, Neil Wagner 45, Nisala Tharaka 4/59, Dhananjaya De Silva 2/22, Lahiru Madusanka 2/42.
Sri Lanka A – 271/3 in 45.3 overs: Danushka Gunathilake 106, Dhananjaya De Silva 86, Kithruwan Vithanage 54, Ish Sodhi 1/48.
1st match on 1st October – Sri Lanka A won by 82 runs
All-rounder Shehan Jayasuriya smashed a brilliant half-ton and took 7 wickets as the visitors got their tour off to a winning start.
Sri Lanka batting first made 342 for 8 in their 50 overs. Opener Danushka Gunathilake slammed 66 while one drop batsman Kithruwan Vithanage top-scored with a 70-ball 69. Shehan Jayasuriya hammed 58 in 51 deliveries while experienced skipper Ashan Priyanjan and hard-hitting Chamara Kapugedara hammered 34 and 32 in no time.
The home team in their reply was bowled out for 260 in 43.1 overs. Opener Michael Pollard provided the only significant resistance with 76 from 75 balls. Off-spinner Shehan Jayasuriya bowled all his 10 overs to take 7 wickets for 44.
Sri Lanka A – 342/8 in 50 overs: Kithuruwan Vithanage 69, Dhanushka Gunathilaka 66, Shehan Jayasuriya 58, Ashan Priyanjan 34, Chamara Kapugedara 32, Jacob Duffy 3/67.
NZC Winter Training XI – 260 all out in 43.1 overs: Michael Pollard 76, Mitchell Santner 48, Mark Bracewell 47, Shehan Jayasuriya 7/44.
Sri Lanka A will commence their 4-match one-day series against New Zealand A on 5th October.
