MORATUWA, Sri Lanka, CMC – Opener Assad Fudadin struck his fourth first class hundred but West Indies A’s batting woes continued on the opening day of the third and final four-day “Test” here yesterday.
The left-handed Guyanese made 103 while his partner, Test opener Kraigg Brathwaite, weighed in with 75, as the visitors finished the day on 239 for six at the Tyronne Fernando Stadium.
Fudadin and Brathwaite put on 137 for the first wicket as Windies A cruised at 149 for one but the Caribbean side suffered a dramatic collapse, losing five wickets for 41 runs.
The slide was stemmed by a 41-run, sixth wicket stand between Fudadin and wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton who was unbeaten on 16 at the close.
He was partnered by captain Carlos Brathwaite who was not out on 18.
Off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal picked up five for 94.
Opting to bat first, West Indies A were given a strong start by Fudadin and Brathwaite as Sri Lanka A’s bowlers found themselves frustrated.
Fudadin, who has played three Tests, faced 187 balls and counted 11 fours while Brathwaite was positive in his stroke-play, striking seven fours off 119 deliveries.
Once Brathwaite became Kaushal’s first wicket, however, wickets tumbled steadily with Test player Jermaine Blackwood (7), Jonathan Carter (2) and Andre Fletcher (0) all perishing cheaply.
Fudadin propped up the innings before becoming the final wicket of the day, caught and bowled to give Kaushal his five-wicket haul.
Scoreboard
WEST INDIES A 1st innings
K Brathwaite c Priyanjan b Kaushal 75
A Fudadin c & b Kaushal 103
J Blackwood b Kaushal 7
J Carter st Dickwella b Kaushal 2
A Fletcher c Perera b Madushanka 0
S Ambris c Thirimanne b Kaushal 5
+C Walton not out 16
*C Brathwaite not out 18
Extras (b5, lb1, nb2, pen5) 13
TOTAL (6 wkts, 66 overs) 239
To bat: D Bishoo, S Gabriel, M Cummins
Fall of wickets: 1-137, 2-149, 3-157, 4-169, 5-178, 6-219.
Bowling: Pradeep 10-1-32-0 (nb1), Madushanka 10-0-41-1, de Silva 16-1-50-1, Kaushal 28-4-94-5 (nb1), Priyanjan 2-0-11-0.
SRI LANKA A – U Tharanga (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, C de Silva, N Dickwella, N Pradeep, T Kaushal, K Madushanka, K Perera, A Priyanjan, L Thirimanne, K Vithanage.
Toss: West Indies A.
Umpires: R Kottahachchi, R Wimalasiri.