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Nishan Madushka who shared a double century opening stand with Oshada Fernando sweeps for runs
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
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| Oshada Fernando celebrating his century in the SLC Board XI second innings |
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| England Lions top order batsman Tom Haines rejoicing after reaching his ninth first-class hundred
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Diminutive Sussex left-hander Tom Haines scored his ninth first-class century and Matthew Fisher and Liam Patterson-White followed their fine bowling performances with useful contributions with the bat to give England Lions a massive first innings lead of 331 on the second day of the first unofficial 4-day test continued at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Facing an uphill task of trying to save the match Sri Lanka Cricket Board XI finished the day promisingly placed on 228-1, to trail by 103 runs going into the third day today.
Shot out for 136, SLC Board XI put up a much-improved batting performance in the second innings with openers Nishan Madushka and Oshada Fernando sharing a double century partnership of 203 which has given them the foundation to take the game into the fourth and final day and set England Lions a target to chase.
Test opener Fernando was in supreme form stroking 18 fours in his 134-ball innings for 114 – his 19th first-class century. Madushka, the season’s leading run-getter in the domestic circuit played a passive role in the partnership and at the close was unbeaten on 91 scored off 136 balls with 13 fours and a six. Lakshitha Manasinghe sent as nightwatchman stuck it out for 30 balls to remain 14 not out.
Haines resuming on 62 lost his overnight partner Josh Bohannon for 42 and also Jack Haynes for 16 and Jamie Smith for 23 before completing his century off 110 balls inclusive of 10 fours and a six. He was dismissed in the penultimate over before lunch for a compact 118 scored off 138 balls.
SLC Board XI did well to capture four wickets in the morning session that saw 145 runs being scored. Patterson-White and Fisher continued to frustrate the Board XI with contributions of 41 (off 61 balls, 6 fours) and 53 (46 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes) respectively before the innings ended. Amshi de Silva, the right-arm medium-pacer from NCC took three wickets in the day conceding 59 runs. Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya trying to make a test comeback didn’t do himself any good conceding 159 runs off 30 overs for his three wickets.
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