Sadeera’s century in vain as Australia ‘A’ takes 1-0 lead

Sadeera Samarawickrama

Tanveer Sangha

Australia ‘A’ took a 1-0 lead in the two-match four-day unofficial test series when they beat Sri Lanka ‘A’ by 68 runs to win the first match concluded at Hambantota yesterday.

Australia ‘A’ declared their second innings at the overnight score of 212-5 leaving themselves the entire fourth and final day to bowl Sri Lanka ‘A’ out.

Faced with a challenging target of 318, Sri Lanka ‘A’ were dismissed for 249 with only Sadeera Samarawickrama and Minod Bhanuka putting up any kind of resistance against the leg-spin of Tanveer Sangha (4/56) and the pace of Aaron Hardie (3/35) and Nathan McAndrew (3/31).

Bhanuka, opening the innings scored a productive 87 off 142 balls (11 fours, 1 six) putting together a partnership of 117 with Samarawickrama who went onto score his eighth first-class hundred (105 off 146 balls, 9 fours).

The second unofficial test commences on 24 June at the same venue.

Scores: Australia ‘A’ 379 and 212-5 decl. (212-5 at close (Marcus Harris 32, Matt Renshaw 32, Nic Maddinson 59, Josh Philippe 69, Lakshitha Manasinghe 2/83)

Sri Lanka ‘A’ 274 and 249 (Minod Bhanuka 87, Sadeera Samarawickrama 105, Suminda Lakshan 23, Aaron Hardie 3/35, Nathan McAndrew 3/31, Tanveer Sangha 4/56)