New Zealanders had to work hard on the first day in the warm-up match against Sri Lanka Board President’s XI as the visitors conceded 323 runs for only 6 wickets at Air Force Grounds, Katunayake.
Watch Day 02: Live – SLC Board President’s XI vs New Zealand – Three-Day Tour Match
The start of the play was postponed in the morning due to rain and the game only commenced after the lunch.
SLCBP-XI skipper Ashan Priyanjan won the toss and elected to bat against the World Cup runners-up New Zealand and the openers Sadeera Samarawickrama and Danushka Gunathilaka made a strong start to the innings.
Read: Priyanjan to lead SLC Board President’s XI against Kiwis
The pair found the boundary more often than not and maintained a high 6-runs per over throughout their partnership. Samarawickrama was reprieved early in his innings as one of the decisions was ruled out as not out with Tim Southee overstepping.
The attacking mindset by the home batsmen really paid off as Kiwi bowlers couldn’t find a breakthrough while the runs were being piling-up quickly. Finally, the drudgery ended for the Kiwis as Samarawickrama misjudged a delivery from left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel while trying to loft it down to midwicket, falling for a well-made 80 runs.
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Danushka Gunathilaka made a strong case for his addition in the final 15 Test squad, as he raced to 98 runs in just 97 balls with some magnificent stroke play. His innings was colored with 12 fours and 1.
Soon after the openers dismissal, Patel ran havoc in the SLCBP-XI middle order to return the batters one after another to the dressing room, picking up 5 wickets. SLCBP-XI collapsed from 154-0 to 217-5.
Skipper Ashan Priyanjan and youngster Pathum Nissanka launched the rescue act for SLCBP-XI as the duo contributed with an 81-run partnership for 6th wicket before Colin de Grandhomme pulled off a one-handed stunner to dismiss Nissanka who was on 35.
Photos: Sri Lanka Board President’s XI vs New Zealand | Tour Match – Day 1
Priyanjan and wicket keeper batsman Minod Bhanuka remained unscathed at the stumps, on 56 and 14 respectively when the umpires decided it was too dark to carry on.
Watch the second day’s play live on Dialog Television Channel No.77 and ThePapare.com from 9.45am onwards.
