Upul Tharanga and Dimuth Karunarathne slammed half-centuries on the final day of the tour game between Pakistan and Sri Lanka Board President’s XI which ended in a draw at Colts grounds on Saturday.
The promising right arm leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay finished the game with impressive figures of 8 for 167. Earlier on Saturday morning, Pakistanis resumed their 2nd innings on 27 for 1. Shan Masood and Azhar Ali kept the scoreboard ticking scoring valuable knocks of 69 and 48 respectively. Masood was trapped LBW by Vandersay while Ali was retired out. Pakistan skipper Misbah Ul-Haq became Vandersay’s 2nd victim in the innings as the 41-year old was dismissed for 29.
Experienced Younus Khan once again took a good batting knock with a 71-ball 35 before retiring but one of their main players; Sarfraz Ahmed once again failed when he was caught behind for a duck by Niroshan Dickwella off Binura Fernando’s bowling. Asad Shafiq was unbeaten on 31 when the visitors declared their innings on 257 for 7. Vandersay completed his 8-wicket match bag taking the final scalp of Wahab Riaz for 24.
The hosts had 27 overs to bat and get 264 runs to win the game. Positively for Sri Lanka’s plans for the upcoming Test series, Dimuth Karunarathne got himself some runs behind scoring a classic 54 off 69 deliveries and it included 8 fours. Upul Tharanga took only 53 deliveries to reach his half-ton. Jehan Mubarak once again failed to impress the selectors as he was undone by Wahab Riaz for 16 as Sri Lanka ended the match on 129 for 3.
The first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan starts on 17th at Galle International Stadium.
Chief Scores:
Pakistan XI – 247 all out in 73.3 overs: Ahmed Shehzad 82, Younus Khan 64, Asad Shafiq 27, Jeffrey Vandersay 5/73, Milinda Siriwardene 2/63.
Board President’s XI – 241 all out in 89.1 overs: Kaushal Silva 101, Dinesh Chandimal 22, Jehan Mubarak 28, Upul Tharanga 35, Milinda Siriwardene 26, Zulfiqar Babar 6/31, Yasir Shah 2/45.
Pakistan XI (2nd inn) – 257/7 declared in 69.4 overs: Shan Masood 69, Azhar Ali 48, Misbah Ul-Haq 29, Younus Khan 35, Asad Shafiq 31*, Jeffrey Vandersay 3/94.
Board President’s XI (2nd inn) – 129/3 in 27 overs: Upul Tharanga 50, Dimuth Karunarathne 54.
