In-form, Kusal Janith Perera and tailender, Nisala Tharaka struck half-centuries to guide Sri Lanka A to 273 at stumps on day one in their 3rd unofficial Test match against Pakistan A at Dambulla Cricket Stadium.
After two tame draws in the previous games, both teams moved to the dry zone in Sri Lanka, Dambulla for the final game in the tour. Pakistan A skipper Fawad Alam won the toss of coin and elected to field on a fresh surface. Right arm quick, Tabish Khan and left-arm seamer, Mir Hamza made early inroads claiming the wickets of Dhananjaya De Silva and Udara Jayasundara early on as the hosts lost their openers for just 22 runs on the board.
Kithruwan Vithanage joined Madawa Warnapura in the middle and they constructed a valiant partnership of 55 as the home team was sitting pretty at one stage with the score on 76 for 2 in 22 overs. Right-arm medium fast-bowler Shehzad Azam scalped both the players for 48 and 14 respectively. Vithanage made 8 boundaries in his knock of 48 off 67 balls. Left-arm spinner Fawad Alam clean bowled his counterpart, Ashan Priyanjan for 7 and then dismissed Asela Gunaratne as Sri Lanka A was reeling at 100 for 6 in 34 overs.
Experienced Kusal Janith Perera needed to guide the innings with the help of tailender, Nisala Tharaka and they took their team out of danger building a valuable 124-run stand for the 7th wicket. Right-handed Nisala Tharaka hammered 11 fours and 2 big sixes in his knock of 76 in 116 balls. Kusal Janith missed out on another well-deserved ton as he became Tabish Khan’s 2nd victim when the left-hander was caught by Umar Amin for 90. Perera faced only 101 balls to score his runs including 12 fours and 2 sixes. Sri Lanka A tail could not wag for long as the visitors bundled out them for 273 in 74 overs.
The Pakistani A openers faced out the remaining 14 overs securely to end the day without losing a wicket. The match will be continued today (21st May/Thursday).
Chief Scores:
Sri Lanka A – 273 all out in 74 overs: Kithruwan Vithanage 48, Kusal Janith Perera 90, Nisala Tharaka 76, Shehzad Azam 3/54, Fawad Alam 4/40, Tabish Khan 2/65.
Pakistan A – 20 for no loss in 14 overs: Khurram Manzoor 13.
