by To save final unofficial Test: Sri Lanka `A' face uphill task
Sa'adi Thawfeeq reporting from Matara
Sri Lanka `A' faced a uphill task of saving the third and final
unofficial Test against West Indies `A' when they ended the
penultimate day on 118 for two wickets after being forced to follow-on
at the Uyanwatte Stadium Friday.
Shot out for a paltry 108 runs in the first innings in reply to West
Indies `A's mammoth total of 523 for 9 declared, Sri Lanka `A' lost
the wickets of Russel Arnold (1) and Naveed Nawaz (38) to go into the
fourth and final day today, requiring a further 297 runs to avoid an
innings defeat and prevent West Indies `A' from making a clean sweep
of the three-`Test' series.
Sri Lanka have eight wickets in hand and the whole of today (90 overs)
to save the Test.
At the wickets are two batsmen who are capable of ensuing Sri Lanka
`A' reach a position of safety. Skipper Marvan Atapattu is unbeaten on
26, having benefitted from a bat/pad chance to Philo Wallace at
short-leg off Cuffy at 17. With him is the obdurate Duleep
Samaraweera, who has batted the length of the Sri Lanka `A' second
innings of 204 minutes for an undefeated 41.
Cuffy, as has become customary in the series, achieved the initial
breakthrough by getting rid of left-hander Arnold for the fourth time
in the series - caught in the slips.
Another left-hander, Nawaz displayed some crisp shots, cracking a six
off leg-spinner Rawl Lewis and five fours, before the bowler had his
revenge by having him caught at extra cover for 38.
Nawaz had also impressed in the first innings by top scoring with 44
made in 162 minutes with the aid of five fours. He and Lanka de Silva
(20) were the only batsmen to get into double figures when the rest of
the batting represented a sorry spectacle against accurate fast
bowling.
For once, Nigel Francis took the bowling honours returning figures of
4 for 32, while Cuffy and Lewis shared four between them.
Sri Lanka `A' resuming at 17 for 2 were reduced to 79 for 6 at lunch
before being dismissed, 43 minutes after resumption for 108.
WEST INDIES A' - 1ST INNINGS
(523 for 9 decl)
SRI LANKA `A' - 1ST INNINGS
(17 for 2 overnight contd)
D. P. Samaraweera c Lewis b Francis 0, R. P. Arnold c S. Williams b Cuffy 5, M.
N. Nawaz c Joseph b L. Williams 44, M. S. Atapattu c Jacobs b Francis 2, S. Ra
natunga c Samaroo b Cuffy 7, V. S. K. Waragoda c Wallace b Francis 0, R. S. Kal
page c Jacobs b Francis 3, S. K. L. de Silva c Jacobs b Lewis 20, N. R. G. Pere
ra c Cuffy b Lewis 8, K. R. Pushpakumara c Lewis b Samaroo 5, G. P. Wickremasin
ghe not out 1, Extras (B-3, NB-10) 13.
TOTAL (all out, 46.5 overs, 214 mins) 108.
FALL OF WICKETS: 5, 14, 29, 39, 45, 49, 83, 93, 106, 108.
BOWLING: Cuffy 11-5-18-2 (NB-6), Francis 10-1-32-4 (NB-4), Lewis 13-4-26-2, L.
Williams 11-4-26-1, Samaroo 1.5-0-3-1.
SRI LANKA `A' - 2ND INNINGS
D. P. Samaraweera not out 41, R. P. Arnold c Joseph b Cuffy 1, M. N. Nawaz c L.
Williams b Lewis 38, M. S. Atapattu not out 26, Extras (LB-3, NB-8, W-1) 12.
TOTAL (for 2 wkts at close, 52 overs, 204 mins) 118.
FALL OF WICKETS: 2, 72.
BOWLING (to-date): Cuffy 9-3-14-1, Francis 6-1-17-0, Lewis 20-6-48-1, L. Willia
ms 5-3-5-0, Samaroo 12-2-31-0.
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