NCC pair opener Pathum Nissanka hit a career best 217 and paceman Chamikara Karunaratne scored his maiden first-class hundred to help Sri Lanka ‘A’ draw the second and final 4-day unofficial test against Ireland ‘A’ and take the two-match series 1-0 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota yesterday.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ went into the fourth and final day at 180-4 in their second innings after being made to follow-on and still trailing Ireland ‘A’ by 25 runs.
Nissanka, the former Isipathana College and Sri Lanka under 19 batsman resuming from his overnight score of 92 went onto play a match-saving innings of 217 off 274 balls inclusive of 28 fours frustrating the Irish bowlers for two full sessions as Sri Lanka ‘A’ went onto pile on 468-7 before declaring their innings.
Ireland ‘A’ managed to prize out the wickets of Kamindu Mendis (53) and Shammu Ashan (14) both falling to the pace of Mark Adair. At 315-6 and a lead of 110 Sri Lanka ‘A’ were in danger of losing the match.
However Karunaratne, the former Royal College pacie joined Nissanka in a century (102) partnership to dash all Irish hopes of winning the contest and drawing the series.
The pair batted with composure with Nissanka going past his previous highest score of 206 not out for NCC against Army SC in a Premier League match played at NCC grounds last December and Karunaratne improving on his previous effort of 82 for NCC against Moors SC at Moors grounds also last month.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ closed their innings soon after Karunaratne had completed his century off 106 balls with 11 fours and two sixes, leaving Ireland ‘A’ with the task of chasing 264 in 32 overs. They finished on 89-3 to draw the ‘test’.
Scores: Ireland ‘A’ 508-8 decl. and 89-3 in 24 overs (James McCollum 45 n.o., Lorcan Tucker 22 n.o., Lasith Ambuldeniya 2/37)
Sri Lanka ‘A’ 303 and 468-7 decl. (Pathum Nissanka 217, Manoj Sarathchandra 28, Kamindu Mendis 53, Chamikara Karunaratne 100 n.o., Mark Adair 2/65, Jonathan Garth 3/140)
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