O pener Malinda Warnapura scored a century while Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene narrowly missed one as the touring Sri Lankan cricketers ended the first day of their three-day match against a Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) President’s XI (and not a West Indies Select XI as was previously reported) on 343-5 at the National Stadium at Providence yesterday.
Warnapura scored 132 before he retired during the tea interval while Jayawardene was bowled by Steven Jacobs for 99 as the visitors sent in to bat first used the opportunity to get in much needed batting practice ahead of Saturday’s first test against the West Indies.
The game will not be accorded first class status, as the teams agreed that Sri Lanka would use all 14 of their players in this game while the host team used 12 players.
On a pitch suited for batting and in pluperfect conditions, the Sri Lankans made ideal use of the agreement which gave them first strike as no toss was spun with Warnapura striking 14 fours and one six in his 184-ball, 242-minute innings, while Jayawardene’s 99 included 12 fours and came from 110 balls in 122 minutes.
If the visitors had an ideal start the GCB select XI had a start that was less than ideal as fiery Kemar Roach started with a leg side bye which beat wicket -keeper and captain Patrick Brown and went all the way to the third man boundary for four.
At the other end, however, Roach’s opening partner Jason Dawes, operating from the Media Box end was accurate.
The GCB Select XI had a chance to seize an early wicket when opener Michael Vandort cut a delivery from Roach in the fifth over but the catch was floored by Krishna Deosarran at gully.
At that stage the Sri Lankans were 16-0.
As if the let-off was not bad enough, the GCB Select XI lost Dawes in the very next over as the Jamaican pacer suffered a left quadriceps strain and was forced to leave the field; Christopher Barnwell completed the over.
Warnapura, looking ominous with a cut to the third man boundary forced skipper Browne to pull Roach out of the attack and introduce the spinners.
But Warnapura was equal to the task and dispatched the leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo to the third man boundary for four to bring up his half century.
Once again, the Select Team had a misfortune in the field as Shemroy Barrington dropped Malinda Warnapura on 63 at forward short leg off Bishoo with the score on 97.
Not long after, the Sri Lankan opening pair brought up the century partnership in the 26th over going in to lunch with the score 102 – 0 with Vandort on 25 and Warnapura on 64.
When play resumed Vandort was bowled by Bishoo for a watchful 29 off 93 balls ending the 115-run opening stand with the left-handed Warnapura.
Kumar Sangakkara, dropped by Barrington on 22 off his own bowling failed to make the most of the miss and was out for the same score after a second-wicket stand of 59 with Warnapura.
He was bowled by West Indies Under-19 captain Shamarah Brooks attempting a sweep shot.
Warnapura was to put on a further 79 runs with his skipper Jayawardene in a third wicket stand during which he reached his century which came off of 133 balls and in 172 minutes.
Jayewardene and Thilann Samaraweera added 63 for the fourth wicket with Samaraweera getting 36 from 101 balls in 115 minutes with two fours before being run out.
Brooks, 1-20, Jacobs, 1-87 and Bishoo 1-94 were the wicket takers.(KB)
