An almost full-strength Sri Lankan side thrashed Kent by 128 runs in the second of their three limited overs tour games in the south of England to record their first win on English soil.
Missing only Lasith Malinga from what many would select as their first-choice team, they scored 301 for seven and then dismissed Kent for 173 in reply. Although captain Angelo Mathews was the only player to reach a half-century, scoring 51, his team-mates made valuable contributions and quick-fire blitz knocks to help their team pass the 300-run mark. Then, Suranga Lakmal, Thisara Perera and Ajantha Mendis all took three wickets as only Alex Blake (60) mounted much resistance for the hosts, who were bowled out in just 36.3 overs.
After winning the toss of coin and choosing to field first, Kent made an early breakthrough when fast bowler Robbie Joseph had Kusal Perera caught by Blake for one in the second over of the game. There onwards, Sri Lanka strung together useful partnerships, the most weighty of them coming between Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne (49), who put on 84 together for the fourth wicket.
Mathews hit five fours and two sixes and Thirimanne stroked only a single four in 73 balls knock. Senior trio of Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara got their feet on track for the forthcoming international challenges with solid knock of 35, 30 and 33 respectively. Dinesh Chandimal thumped an unbeaten 47 in 31 balls and Thisara Perera hit 29 in 22 balls as Kent’s bowlers suffered at the death after the Sri Lankan lower middle order hit their strides perfectly.
Joseph picked up figures of four for 58 while Adam Ball, James Tredwell and debutant Charlie Hartley took a wicket apiece.
Chasing a mammoth 302 runs to win, Suranga Lakmal then struck twice early in Kent’s reply, dismissing Daniel Bell-Drummond caught behind before he started scoring and Fabian Cowdrey bowled for four. Captain Sam Northeast (26) and Blake uadded 35 for the third wicket as they tried to mount a revival only for another double blow to knock Kent back. Thisara Perera dismissed Northeast and Ben Harmison (1) to reduce Kent to 59 for four. Blake and wicket-keeper Sam Billings joined forces to progress the score to 127 before Billings was caught behind off Perera and soon after Blake was gone, caught by Mathews off Nuwan Kulasekara, having faced 65 balls and hit seven fours in his knock of 60.
Sri Lankan bowlers swiftly dispensed the Kent lower order to complete a resounding win. Lakmal emerged with three for 16, Perera three for 33, Mendis three for 55 and Kulasekara one for 11.
Sri Lanka’s final tour game is a Twenty20 game against Sussex on 18th May before they head for the Kia Oval to play England in the one-off T20 International.
Chief Scores:
Sri Lanka – 301/7 (50 overs) : Angelo Mathews 51, Lahiru Thirimanne 49, Dinesh Chandimal 47*, TM Dilshan 35, Kumar Sangakkara 33, Mahela Jayawardene 30, Thisara Perera 29, Robbie Joseph 4/58.
Kent – 173 all out (36.3 overs) : Alex Blake 60, Sam Billings 29, Adam Ball 26, Suranga Lakmal 3/16, Thisara Perera 3/33, Ajantha Mendis 3/55.
