Sri Lanka 'A' force draw
in first 'Test'

India 'A' had to settle for a draw after Sri Lanka 'A' batsmen showed greater determination to stay on and bat through the fourth day in the first unofficial Test at the SSC stadium in Colombo on Sunday.

The top three Sri Lankan batsmen crossed 80, as the hosts reached 291 for five wickets in 80 overs on a rain-delayed final day's play, which stretched into dusk to make up for the loss of two hours.

India had declared at their overnight score of 302 for four, leaving the hosts a stiff victory target of 418 runs.

It was the bowlers who let the visitors down as their attack lacked penetration, which allowed openers Avishka Gunawardena and Ian Daniel to post a breezy first-wicket stand of 128.

Gunawardena was severe on the fast bowlers, racing to his 50 in just 66 balls with a flurry of boundaries. He scored a quickfire 95-ball 82 and was the first to be dismissed. His knock included 10 fours and a six.

Daniel played the sheet-anchor role to help his side avoid a repeat of the first innings middle order collapse that led to their conceding a 115-run first innings lead. His painstaking 84 came in over four hours off 168 balls, before he jumped out to Bahutule and was left stranded to be run out.

Daniel and one-drop Navid Nawaz added 87 for the second wicket, a partnership that consolidated on the sound start and effectively sealed India's chances of forcing a victory.

Skipper T M Dilshan (9) edged an attempted drive off leg spinner Mishra into the hands of Kanitkar in slips, and a couple of balls later, Chamara Silva survived a confident shout for leg before when he padded up to Mishra.

However, there was no further damage for nearly an hour before left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan snapped up two wickets with just a few minutes of play left.

Left-handed Nawaz opened out a little too late in the day to fancy his chances of a century, and had to be content with an unbeaten 84 when play ended.

Mail Cricket Editor