The Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI suffered a first-innings loss against Oil and Natural Gas Corporation in the 2nd match in the Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup Tournament 2015/16 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad last week.
The Islanders had a good outing against Hyderabad Cricket Association President’s XI in the first match where they almost won the game outright.
Skipper Milinda Siriwardana won the toss and elected to bat first. The boys from Sri Lanka mustered only 249 all out in 77.3 overs. Opener Kusal Mendis played a quick-fire 54-ball 47 with 7 fours to his name.
Middle-order batsman Angelo Jayasinghe and left-hander Lahiru Milantha added a valuable 87 runs for the 5th wicket to help the visitors. Colts CC right-hander Jayasinghe top-scored with a fluent 75 in 183 balls while former Peterite Milantha contributed with 47 runs.
Resham Sharma and Mohommad Saif took 3 wickets apiece while seamer Navdeep Saini captured 2 wickets for Oil and Natural Gas Corporation.
The home team in their reply made an astonishing 358 backed up by opener Tanmay Srivastava’s brilliant century. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation led by Gautam Ghambhir had many young talented Indian future stars in their lineup.
Left-handed Tanmay cracked 143 in 202 balls with 13 fours. 21-year old Nitish Rana struck 71 while young Ankush Bains made a steady 51. Former St. Sebastian’s duo, Left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando took 4 wickets for 99 while left-arm spinner Amila Aponso grabbed 3 for 83.
Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI was scheduled to play their final three-day match against India Cements but due to bad weather, the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Sri Lanka Development XI – 249 all out in 77.3 overs: Kusal Mendis 47, Angelo Jayasinghe 75, Lahiru Milantha 47, Rumesh Buddhika 23, Resham Sharma 3/46, Mohommad Saif 3/30, Navdeep Saini 2/35.
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation – 358 all out in 90 overs: Tanmay Srivastava 143, Nitish Rana 71, Ankush Bains 51, Vishwa Fernando 4/99, Amila Aponso 3/83.
