Sri Lanka Board XI took on the Sri Lanka Development team for a four day practice game at the P. Sara Stadium today.
The three team tournament which also includes Sri Lanka ‘A’ was organized by the Sri Lanka Cricket to replace the cancelled tour to Zimbabwe.
The tournament didn’t have the most auspicious of starts as TM Dilshan was ruled out for the match with a finger strain and was replaced by in-form wicket-keeper/batsman Kaushal Silva. Kaushal was drafted from the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team and had a splendid run against the New Zealand ‘A’ team recently.
SL Board XI captained by Angelo Mathews took was lease of the wicket and piled on the runs. Dimuth Karunaratne fell early in the morning for 20 runs. Kaushal and Kumar Sangakkara then put on a mammoth 195 run partnership for the 2nd wicket with Sangakkara scoring a fluent 107 ( 13 4s, 1 six). Kaushal ultimately fell for 125 runs to Shaminda Eranga. Eranga was the day’s most successful bowler with 2 wickets for 60. Mahela Jayawardena also notched a half century before falling during the last hour of play.
Summary – Day 1 Stumps
SL Board XI 352/4 ( Kaushal Silva 125, Kumar Sangakkara 107, Shaminda Eranga 2/60)
Board XI:
Angelo Mathews (capt), Kaushal Silva, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dimuth Karunaratne, Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), Nuwan Kulasekara, Sachithra Senanayake, Suranga Lakmal, Thisara Perera, Ajantha Mendis
Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI:
HDRL Thirimanne*, MDKJ Perera, DSNFG Jayasuriya, MLR Buddika, SC Serasinghe, ARS Silva, PM Pushpakumara, MVT Fernando, PLS Gamage, RMS Eranga, N Dickwella†
