Sri Lanka ‘A’ took a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match unofficial ODI series when they beat New Zealand ‘A’ by 44 runs under the DLS method at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Hambantota yesterday.
New Zealand ‘A’ chasing Sri Lanka ‘A’s tall score of 368-9 replied with 158-3 off 28 overs when bad light put a stop to the match. At that point New Zealand ‘A’ were well behind the required par score.
New Zealand ‘A’ got off to a brisk start with the openers posting 36 off 29 balls, but Sri Lanka ‘A’ managed to pull things back by picking up wickets and not allowing any big partnerships to develop. Curtis Heaphy held the innings together with an undefeated 53 off 62 balls (4 fours) but the required rate began to rise as the spinners came on the scene and put the brakes on the scoring.
Earlier Lasith Croospulle smashed a brilliant century – 103 off 76 balls (13 fours, 6 sixes) to set the tone for Sri Lanka ‘A’s massive total after they had won the toss and chose to bat first. Skipper Sahan Arachchige (74 off 68 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes) and Sonal Dinusha (93 off 77 balls, 6 fours, 4 sixes) also joined the run parade as the total shot past the 350-run mark on a flat pitch that offered hardly any assistance to the bowlers. Left-arm spinner Tim Pringle was the pick of the New Zealand ‘A’ bowlers with 3/58.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ won the first unofficial ODI by 140 runs at Galle. The third and final game is scheduled for Saturday at Hambantota.
Scores:
Sri Lanka ‘A’ 368-9 (50) (Lasith Croospulle 103, Nuwanidu Fernando 20, Sahan Arachchige 74, Sonal Dinusha 93, Tim Pringle 3/58, Adithya Ashok 2/60)
New Zealand ‘A’ 158-3 (28) (Tim Robinson 27, Dale Phillips 34, Curtis Heaphy 53*)
