Result: Sri Lanka A won by 168 runs
Sri Lanka A 555/6d & 275/4d v New Zealand A 391 & 271
Sri Lanka A 555/6d & 275/4d v New Zealand A 391 & 271
A late display of power hitting from Doug Bracewell (104 not out) could not stop Sri Lanka A from wrapping up a 168-run victory in the second four day match at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
Having been set 425 to win, New Zealand A resumed the final day at 15 without loss but failed to form an influential partnership at the top of the order. Carl Cachopa (26) and Anton Devcich (34) made starts, but their side steadily lost wickets throughout the morning session to be reduced to 127 for seven.
With the game all but over, Bracewell went on the attack. The 22 year-old struck eight fours and seven sixes in his 85 ball innings and was rewarded with his maiden First Class century. Cameos from Ish Sodhi (19) and Matt Henry (19) allowed him to reach the milestone, before New Zealand were all-out after 61.3 overs.
Spinner Malinda Pushpakumara was the best of Sri Lanka A's bowlers with figures of four for 60,
The two teams square off in the first of three one day matches on Sunday.
Day three: New Zealand A 391 (Ronchi 134) & 15/0 v Sri Lanka A 555/6d & 275/4d (Kithuruwan Vithanage 71) at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
Luke Ronchi scored 134 in New Zealand A’s first innings – they’re now chasing 425 to win the second unofficial Test against Sri Lanka A.
Ronchi scored at almost a run a ball to help New Zealand A avoid the follow on a day where 442 runs were scored. His partner at the end of day two, Tom Latham, went on to score 77, while Ellis, Astle and Sodhi all chipped in with starts.
Sri Lanka A replied by bashing 275 at 5.61 runs an over before declaring, to set New Zealand A 440 to win. Dimuth Karunaratne (62), Kusal Perera (55) and Kithuruwan Vithanage (71) all cashed in, while Anton Devcich picked up three wickets, despite going for 120 runs from his 20 overs.
Openers Carl Cachopa (5) and Tom Latham (2) were still at the crease at the end of day’s play. New Zealand A face a big challenge to win on day four, but they have all ten wickets left to do it, and this pitch certainly looks to have some runs in it.
Day two: Sri Lanka A 555-6d (Kaushal Silva 193, Kithuruwan Vithanage 116), New Zealand A 224-4 (Latham 77*, Ronchi 60*) at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
Tom Latham (77) and Luke Ronchi (60) lead the fight back for New Zealand A, and are both not out at stumps on day two of the second unofficial Test in Dambulla. In reply to Sri Lanka A’s 555-6, the visitors were 140-4 at one stage, but Latham and Ronchi’s 84 run partnership in the final session put their team in a much stronger position. Earlier Cachopa (38 from 67) and Devcich (39 from 37) made contributions.
Tom Latham (77) and Luke Ronchi (60) lead the fight back for New Zealand A, and are both not out at stumps on day two of the second unofficial Test in Dambulla. In reply to Sri Lanka A’s 555-6, the visitors were 140-4 at one stage, but Latham and Ronchi’s 84 run partnership in the final session put their team in a much stronger position. Earlier Cachopa (38 from 67) and Devcich (39 from 37) made contributions.
Heavy scoring was the theme of the day, with 419 runs scored in the 88 overs played. Kithuruwan Vithanage brought up his century, the second of Sri Lanka A’s innings after participating in a 181 run partnership with fellow centurion Kaushal Silva (193). It was another day of graft for the New Zealand A bowlers, with nine players rolling the arm over, and Bracewell, Henry, Sodhi, Devcich, Cachopa and Mitchell all picking up a wicket each.
New Zealand A’s first goal for day three will be avoiding the follow on target of 355, and making the most of the flat surface.
Day one: Sri Lanka A 360 for 3 (Silva 150*, Karunaratne 84, Bracewell 1-78, Henry 1-45, Devcich 1-41) at Dambulla
Some fine batting from Sri Lanka A meant a tough day for the New Zealand A attack in the second unofficial Test at Dambulla. Kaushal Silva continued his form from the first Test by scoring a patient 150 not out at a relaxed pace, building partnerships of 152 with Dimuth Karunaratne and 146 with Dinesh Chandimal to put the home side in a strong position at the end of day one.
Earlier, Doug Bracewell struck with the third ball of the day, getting Kusal Perera edging to wicketkeeper Tom Latham, but it was hard graft for all the New Zealand A bowlers after that. Canterbury seamer Matt Henry got the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne caught and bowled for 84, and his figures at the end of play were a tight 1-45 from his 17 overs.
Spinners Ish Sodhi and Todd Astle bowled 33 overs between them, but were unable to produce a wicket, while Anton Devcich picked up the wicket of Chandimal late in the day.
