HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka,CMC – West Indies A were made to toil with little success as opener Dimuth Karunaratne struck a hundred to propel Sri Lanka A on the opening day of the first unofficial “Test” here yesterday.
Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka A finished the day on 261 for two, with left-hander Karunaratne top-scoring with a fine 139.
Lahiru Thirimanne was unbeaten at the close on 85 while Dinesh Chandimal ended the day at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium on 29 not out.
Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel (1-30) and seamer and captain Carlos Brathwaite (1-46) shared the two wickets to fall.
The Caribbean side made a great start when Gabriel claimed Upul Tharanga for four with the score on six in the day’s fifth over, caught at the wicket by Chadwick Walton.
However, any hopes of any further immediate success were dashed by Karunaratne and Thirimanne who combined in superb second wicket stand of 217.
Karunaratne faced 234 balls and struck 14 fours while Thirimanne has so far batted 45 balls and counted eight fours.
The partnership took Sri Lanka A safely through the first two sessions and ended in the final hour of the day when Brathwaite had Karunaratne taken behind by Walton.
Even then there was no capitulation as Thirimanne and Chandimal put on another 38 for the third wicket in an unbroken stand.
West Indies A are set to play three unofficial “Tests” and three one-dayers in a tour that wraps up November 14th.
