The visiting Ireland ‘A’ team posted a formidable score of 286 runs losing just 4 wickets on the first day of the 2nd Unofficial Test against Sri Lanka ‘A’. The play was held at the Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota.
Home skipper Ashan Priyanjan won the toss and invited the visitors to take first lease of the wicket, with an unassailable 1-0 lead in the 2-match series. The first Unofficial Test saw the hosts thrashing the tourists by 10 wickets.
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The start for the Irish today, was also not the ideal one. Pacer Chamika Karunaratne, who is replacing Nisala Tharaka in the playing XI, provided Sri Lanka ‘A’ with an early breakthrough with the wicket of James Shannon for 13 runs in the 5th over of the innings.
Then onwards it was all about the Irish batsmen resisting and accumulating runs in unfavourable conditions against an attack born and bred in similar conditions. Opener James McCollum and Stephen Doheny guided their team safely towards lunch with a commendable score of 126/1 in 31 overs.
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McCollum did the bulk of the scoring as he contributed 57 runs for the 110-run 2nd wicket partnership with Doheny. Showing their lack of experience in this level of cricket, McCollum got out just after the lunch break for a well-made 72 courtesy a delivery from speedster Mohamed Shiraz.
Irish skipper Harry Tector was dismissed soon by left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya. Chamika Karunaratne who assisted his fellow Royalist taking the catch to dismiss Tector brought Sri Lanka back in to the game with the wicket of Doheny, who was batting on 58.
Having taken 3 quick wickets right after the break, Sri Lanka were expected to run through the inexperienced Irish batting line-up but wicket keeper batsman Locran Tucker and Neil Rock stood firmly for their team. From 158/4 in the 41st over, the duo batted on until the match was stopped due to bad light after 82 overs.
The left hand-right hand combination of Tucker and Rock stood against the Sri Lankans as both of them went on to score half-centuries. The partnership at stumps was 88* and Ireland’s score was at 286/4.
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The Sri Lankan XI for this game was with 3 changes to the XI which played the previous game. Centurion in that match, Milinda Siriwardena was replaced by Sammu Ashan while Chamika Karunaratne had been brought in for Nisala Tharaka. The interesting inclusion was of Tharindu Kaushal. He was not even named in the initial squad and replaced off-spinner Nishan Peiris for today’s match. Kaushal ended the day wicket-less giving away 48 runs in his 13 overs, but was superb in the warm-up match played before the 1st Unofficial Test with 3 scalps.
