Karunaratne 131 pips Cornwall six-for to put Sri Lanka A ahead

Thursday, 6 October 2016 00:31 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Dimuth Karunaratne scored a patient 131 to keep Sri Lanka A ahead - AFP

ESPNCricinfo.com: Sri Lanka A’s commanding start to the innings - Test batsmen Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera put on 167 for the first wicket - ensured they finished the second day against West Indies A in a strong position.

The left-handed opening pair scored at 4.57 per over, with Perera especially going after a West Indian bowling that might have looked even more pedestrian had it not been for Leeward Islands offspinner Rahkeem Cornwall, who ended the day with 6 for 87, his third five-wicket haul in a row in first-class cricket. Cornwall has taken 42 wickets in his last ten innings.

Cornwall broke the opening stand and further damaged Sri Lanka A’s momentum as he picked up Lahiru Thirimanne and Roshan Silva shortly after. However, Karunaratne dug in and scored 131, setting up a fifth-wicket stand of 85 with Niroshan Dickwella, who scored 59. Cornwall then returned to take three wickets for no runs as Sri Lanka A slipped to 337 for 8.

They finished on 348 for 8, 72 ahead of West Indies A.