Sri Lanka ‘A’ thwart Muthusamy threat to survive first day

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Senuran Muthusamy, the 29-year-old slow left-arm orthodox spinner from Durban once again threatened to run through the Sri Lanka ‘A’ batting on the first day of the second 4-day unofficial test at the P. Sara Oval yesterday, with a haul of five wickets but the home side batsmen put up staunch resistance to finish on 257-7.

Only 66 overs were possible of the 90 scheduled for the day because rain interrupted play during the Sri Lankan innings and cut short play. Sri Lanka ‘A’ were 112-2 off 25 overs when the interruption came and the players took an early lunch.

Nishan Madushka (33 off 41 balls, 6 fours) and Lasith Croospulle (27 off 42 balls, 3 fours, 1 six) gave Sri Lanka ‘A’ a sound start sharing a partnership of 59 before Muthusamy got into the act to dismiss both batsmen in one over.

When play resumed after the rain Minod Bhanuka (32 off 42 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) and Pasindu Sooriyabandara (41 off 52 balls, 6 fours) carried the total to 140 before both got out at the same score. When seamer Lizzard Williams had skipper Kamindu Mendis after making just one, Sri Lanka ‘A’ had lost three wickets for two runs off 27 balls to have half the side out for 142.

At this stage Test player Ramesh Mendis took responsibility on his shoulder and figured in three useful partnerships to prevent Muthusamy from running through the rest of the batting. Mendis, it seems, has taken a liking to the South African ‘A’ bowling scoring 78 and 46 in the first ‘test’.

With Lahiru Udara (33 off 54 balls, 5 fours, 1 six), Mendis added 49 runs for the sixth wicket, and with Lakshitha Manasinghe (13) a further 26. But the partnership that has really frustrated South Africa ‘A’ is the one between Mendis and Milan Ratnayake that has so far produced 40 runs for the eighth wicket.

While Mendis held his end up with a solid 38* off 98 balls (1 four, 2 sixes), fast bowler Ratnayake displayed his batting skills to score a defiant 29* off 40 balls (4 fours, 1 six).  Muthusamy who took a match bag of 12 wickets in the first ‘test’ ended the day with figures of five for 101 off 26 overs.

Sri Lanka ‘A’ lead the two-match series 1-0. The match continues on its second day today.

Scores: Sri Lanka ‘A’ 257-7 at close (Nishan Madushka 33, Lasith Croospulle 27, Minod Bhanuka 32, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 41, Lahiru Udara 33, Ramesh Mendis 38*, Milan Ratnayake 29*, Senuran Muthusamy 5/101) v South Africa ‘A’