Career best knocks by Dinusha and Sahan before rain sets in

Wanuja Sahan and Sonal Dinusha during their 119-run stand for Sri Lanka ‘A’

Afghanistan ‘A’s left-arm spinner Zia-ur-Rehman took six wickets for 127

Two left-handed all-rounders Sonal Dinusha and Wanuja Sahan hit their career best scores in first-class cricket helping Sri Lanka ‘A’ to a formidable first innings total of 435 against Afghanistan ‘A’ on the second day of the one-off 4-day unofficial test match played at the P Sara Oval yesterday.

Dinusha and Sahan continued their eighth wicket partnership to worth 119 before they were separated by left-arm Test spinner Zia-ur-Rehman who had Dinusha stumped for 145 scored off 193 balls (16 fours). This was Dinusha’s third century in first-class cricket and improved on his previous highest score of 112. Sahan went onto score 75 off 118 balls (9 fours, 1 six) beating his previous highest of 60.

Sri Lanka ‘A’ continuing from their overnight score of 372-7 added a further 63 runs for the last three wickets. Zia-ur-Rehman was the pick of the Afghanistan ‘A’ bowlers ending with figures of 6/127 off 31.3 overs - his 15th five-fer in first-class cricket.

Milan Ratnayake struck an early blow for Sri Lanka ‘A’ by having Ihsanullah caught for a golden duck in the second over of the innings. But after another four overs, bad light and rain brought the day’s proceedings to an early end with Afghanistan ‘A’ 18-1 and trailing Sri Lanka ‘A’ 417 runs going into the third day today.

-(ST)

Scores: 

Sri Lanka ‘A’ 435 (o/n 372-7) (Oshada Fernando 32, Lahiru Udara 65, Ahan Wickramasinghe 27, Sonal Dinusha 145, Vishad Randika 63, Wanuja Sahan 75, Naveed Zadran 2/94, Zia-ur-Rehman 6/127)

Afghanistan ‘A’ 18-1 at close.