Pulindu shines again for Sri Lanka on rain-hit opening day

Opener Pulindu Perera on the attack during his innings of 71

Isai Thorne (centre) celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka U-19 captain Sineth Jayawardene

• First 4-day U-19 Youth test vs West Indies at Dambulla

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

A delayed start due to rain and wet ground conditions and bad light with seven of the 45 overs for the day left to be bowled, saw Sri Lanka winning the toss and batting first reach a solid 163-3 on the opening day of the first 4-day U-19 Youth test against West Indies at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

With rain all over Sri Lanka, not even the arid zone of Dambulla was spared, but nevertheless that some form of cricket was played was in itself an achievement.

Play actually commenced at 3 p.m. but had to be suspended at 5.41 pm due to bad light. Still in the 50-over mood, Sri Lankan openers Pulindu Perera and skipper Sineth Jayawardene posted 64 in 12 overs for the first wicket going at well over five runs an over. Jayawardene who raced away to a run-a-ball 34 lost his wicket when he offered a catch having hit seven fours.

But one drop bat Ravishan Nethsara dropped anchor and helped Perera add a further 57 for the second wicket. Perera who scored a series clinching innings of 155 in the third and final ODI on Friday once again showed his liking for the West Indies bowling, stroking his way to an untroubled 71 off 66 balls punctuated with eight fours and two sixes.

West Indies who had to work hard for wickets grabbed a third before the light faded when Rusanda Gamage played down the wrong line to off-spinner Tarrique Edward and was bowled for seven.

Dinura Kalupahana, the Player of the Match in the first ODI and Nethsara took the total to 163 before the players came off for the day for bad light. Nethsara playing the sheet anchor role was unbeaten on 31 scored off 81 balls and Kalupahana on 15.

With none of the players from either side having played in a 4-day Youth test before all 22 of them made their debuts.

The match resumes today at 9.45 am with a minimum of 98 overs to be bowled for the day.

Scores: 

• Sri Lanka (U-19):163-3 at close (Pulindu Perera 71, Sineth Jayawardene 34, Ravishan Nethsara 31*) v West Indies (U-19).