Dickwella, Madushan set up series levelling win for Sri Lanka ‘A’

Niroshan Dickwella in action

Wicketkeeper/batsman Niroshan Dickwella and seamer Pramod Madushan celebrated their inclusions in Sri Lanka’s ODI squad against Australia by setting up a series-levelling win for Sri Lanka ‘A’ against Australia ‘A’ in the second unofficial ODI played at the SSC grounds yesterday.

Chasing a tall target of 313, Dickwella opening the innings set the pace with a 73-ball innings of 83 (10 fours, 1 six) that saw Sri Lanka ‘A’ win by four wickets with seven balls to spare and share the two-match series.

Dickwella has been out of favour in white ball cricket for over a year and his knock yesterday will give him the added confidence to face the Australians in the five-match ODI series.

Australian ‘A’ won the first unofficial ODI by seven wickets on Wednesday. 

Ashen Bandara helped close out an impressive run chase for Sri Lanka ‘A’ scoring an undefeated 73 off 65 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes).

Australia ‘A’ who won the toss and batted first rattled off 312 off 48.4 overs with Travis Head hitting a rapid 110 off 86 balls (15 fours, 2 sixes). They were headed for a big score at one stage on 200-4 in the 30th over but Madushan in a lively spell took four wickets for 50 to dismiss them under fifty overs.

The two teams will meet in a two-match four-day series starting 14 June at Hambantota.

Scores

Australia ‘A’ 312 (48.4) (Josh Phillipe 34, Travis Head 110, Marcus Harris 31, Henry Hunt 40, Aaron Hardie 58, Nisala Tharaka 2/48, Pramod Madushan 4/50, Sahan Arachchige 2/58)

Sri Lanka ‘A’ 315-6 (48.5) (Niroshan Dickwella 83, Oshada Fernando 24, Kamindu Mendis 40, Dhananjaya de Silva 30, Ashen Bandara 73*, Sahan Arachchige 31, Matthew Kuhnemann 3/43, Tanveer Sangha 2/72)