Left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara took six wickets for 52 runs to bowl West Indies A out for 137 and put Sri Lanka A on course for a series levelling win in the second 4-day unofficial cricket test played at Trelawny Multiplex in Jamaica on Friday.
Resuming at 14-2, West Indies A were soon in trouble against Pushpakumara who ran through their batting with the help of off-spinner Shehan Jayasuriya who ended up taking two wickets for eight runs.
West Indies A replying to Sri Lanka A’s first innings of 294 slumped to 69-7 and only some bold hitting by tailenders Rakheem Cornwall (46 off 45 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) and Sheldon Cottrell (18 not out) saw them to 137.
Sri Lanka A with a first innings lead of 157 extended it to 370 by the close of the second day finishing on 213-6.
Sri Lanka A were in trouble at the start of their second innings losing half the side for 86 but first innings century-maker Dasun Shanaka once again came to this team’s rescue with another fine knock scoring 60 of 85 balls (3 fours, 1 six) and sharing a partnership of 106 for the sixth wicket with Roshen Silva who was unbeaten at the close with a steady innings of 85 not out. He has so far hit four fours and two sixes in his 145-ball innings. With two days remaining in the ‘test’ Sri Lanka has a very good chance of drawing level one-all in the three-match series by winning this match. They lost the first ‘test’ by an innings.
Scores:
Sri Lanka A 294 and 213-6 at close in 54 overs (Roshen Silva 85 n.o., Shehan Jayasuriya 32, Dasun Shanaka 60, R Cornwall 3/70)
West Indies A 14-2 contd 137 in 44.3 overs (S Ambris 29, R Cornwall 46, Malinda Pushpakumara 6/52, Shehan Jayasuriya 2/8)