Dilshan, S'kara in form
Tillakaratne Dilshan hit an unbeaten century and Kumar Sangakkara chipped in with a half-century as the touring Sri Lankans got in some batting practice on Friday ahead of next week's first Test against Australia.
Sri Lanka reached second day stumps at 276 for four in reply to the Chairman's XI's 439 for six declared in their three-day tour match at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
While the tourists were still 163 runs behind the Chairman's XI's hefty total, they showed plenty of spirit and even more batting.
Dilshan retired his innings at 101 at the tea break, deciding his 152-ball knock, which included 15 boundaries, had been sufficient batting practice ahead of the three-Test series with Australia, which starts in Hobart next Friday.
Sangakkara hit 55 off 109 balls with six fours before he was leg before wicket to Usman Khawaja late in the day.
Young West Australian off-spinner Ashton Turner made the initial breakthrough ending the 105-run opening partnership between Dilshan and Dimuth Karunaratne when he had the young left-hander Karunaratne caught at mid-on by Marcus Harris for 40.
Victorian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell came in for some punishment from Dilshan and, in particular, Mahela Jayawardene, whose first scoring shot was a prodigious six over long-on.
But Maxwell exacted some revenge when a more-flighted delivery deceived Jayawardene (36) for a caught and bowled.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Prasanna Jayawardene chipped in to be unbeaten on 24 while Dinesh Chandimal is 12 not out at the close.
Chairman's XI opener Scott Henry reached a double century before the hosts automatically declared their first innings after 100 overs, as per the rules of the three-day game.
The invitational side added 49 runs to their overnight score as Henry belted six more boundaries to finish unbeaten on 207.
Comments