MORATUWA, Sri Lanka, CMC –West Indies A lost their three- match unofficial test series against Sri Lanka A after their third and final four- day match petered out into a draw on the fourth day here yesterday. Bad light stopped play as the Sri Lankans were chasing a 218 run target set by West Indies in a match in which the pendulum swung back and forth at the Tyronne Fernando Stadium.
An unbeaten half century from Lahiru Thirimanne pulled the homeside out of a slump on the chase after West Indies, slipped, recovered and then suffered another spectacular batting collapse to be all out for 234 in their second innings.
Pacer Shannon Gabriel removed openers Upul Tharanga and Kusal Perera cheaply sending the homeside reeling at 48 for three. But a 61 run partnership for the 4th wicket between Ashan Priyanjan and Lahiru Thirimanne repaired the damage and revived efforts for outright victory.
Priyanjan was run out for 36 after hitting six fours while Thirimanne, who struck five fours, was undefeated on 57 when bad light stopped play.
Gabriel finished with two for 36 while Devendra Bishoo picked up two for 71.
Earlier, a fourth wicket century stand between Jonathan Carter and Andre Fletcher consolidated the innings after the visitors were in a spot of bother on 97 for three.
Carter added nine runs to his overnight score of 69 before he was stumped; bringing to an end a partnership that produced 120 runs.
Fletcher built on his overnight score of 36, smashing six fours in a knock of 66 before losing his stumps to Chaturanga de Silva who grabbed four for 57.
Fletcher’s demise signaled a familiar batting collapse, undermined once again by the spin off emerging Sri Lankan bowling sensation, Tharindu Kaushal who grabbed five for 78 to finish the match with ten wickets. The 21-one-year-old Kaushal picked up wickets at the top and middle orders as the last six West Indian wickets tumbled for the addition of only 17 runs. Sri Lanka A have secured the series three games to nil.
Scoreboard
WEST INDIES A 2nd innings (183-3 overnight)
K Brathwaite c Tharanga b de Silva 32
A Fudadin lbw b Priyanjan 39
J Blackwood c & b Kaushal 2
J Carter st †Dickwella b Kaushal 78
A Fletcher b de Silva 66
S Ambris b de Silva 3
C Walton† c †Dickwella b Kaushal 6
C Brathwaite* c Perera b de Silva 0
D Bishoo st †Dickwella b Kaushal 0
M Cummins not out 1
S Gabriel c Priyanjan b Kaushal 0
Extras (b 2, lb 3, w 2) 7
Total (all out; 83.2 overs) 234
Fall of wickets 1-44 (KC Brathwaite), 2-53 (Blackwood), 3-97 (Fudadin), 4-217 (Carter), 5-226 (Ambris,), 6-227 (Fletcher), 7-227 (CR Brathwaite), 8-227 (Bishoo), 9-234 (Walton), 10-234 (Gabriel)
Bowling: Nuwan Pradeep 0.3-0-1-0, Kasun Madushanka 12.3-1-52-0, Chaturanga de Silva 25-3-57-4, Tharindu Kaushal 29.2-4-78-5, Ashan Priyanjan 16-2-41-1.
SRI LANKA A 2nd innings (target: 218 runs)
W Tharanga* c Blackwood b Gabriel 4
M Perera c Cummins b Gabriel 10
H Thirimanne not out 57
L Chandimal c Carter b Bishoo 11
S Priyanjan run out (CR Brathwaite) 36
N Dickwella† c Carter b Bishoo 11
K Vithanage not out 20
Extras (b 5, lb 2, nb 10) 17
Total (5 wickets; 44.1 overs) 166
Did not bat: PHT Kaushal, N Pradeep, PC de Silva, HUK Madushanka
Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Tharanga), 2-22 (Perera), 3-48 (Chandimal), 4-109 (Priyanjan), 5-123 (Dickwella)
Bowling: Shannon Gabriel 9.1-0-36-2, Miguel Cummins 8-2-22-0, Jermaine Blackwood 5-1-7-0, Devendra Bishoo 14-0-71-2, Carlos Brathwaite 6-1-16-0, Jonathan Carter 2-0-7-0.
Toss – West Indies A, who chose to bat
Series – Sri Lanka A won the 3-match series 1-0
Umpires – RA Kottahachchi and RR Wimalasiri
