Captain’s knock by Samarawickrama enables a draw for Sri Lanka ‘A’

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Pakistan ‘A’ fast bowler Naseem Shah and Sri Lanka ‘A’ skipper Sadeera Samarawickrama touch fists after Samarawickrama was hit on the helmet by Naseem

Sadeera Samarawickrama celebrates his century

Kamil Mishara who missed out on a century by two runs scores on the off side

Sri Lanka ‘A’ skipper Sadeera Samarawickrama scored a plucky unbeaten century whilst taking several blows on his body and helmet from the Pakistan ‘A’ fast bowlers, especially teenage paceman Naseem Shah, to help Sri Lanka ‘A’ draw the second four-day unofficial cricket test and share the two-match series nil-all at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Samarawickrama stood between victory and defeat as he endured the bombardment of the Pakistani ‘A’ pacies to unsettle him riding the storm to carve out a magnificent 151 not out off 223 balls which included 26 fours and a six that saw Sri Lanka ‘A’ forced to follow-on finish on 317-6. Sri Lanka were bundled out for 67 in the first innings in reply to Pakistan ‘A’s total of 394.   

When bad light interrupted play shortly before the tea break with 43.1 overs left to be bowled for the day, Samarawickrama was unbeaten on 147 with Sri Lanka ‘A’ 309-6, and trailing by 16 runs. The first ball after resumption Samarawickrama thumped Khurram Shahzad for four to reach a well-deserved 150 off 217 balls before bad light once more saw the players go off the field for the final time.

The innings would have done Samarawickrama immense good for a recall to the Test side having made the last of his 4 Test appearances four years ago against India at New Delhi and since then being picked only for white ball cricket. He reached his seventh first-class century off 162 balls with a boundary off Naseem Shah. It was the first 100 for Sri Lanka ‘A’ in the series.

Kamil Mishara, the wonderfully talented 20-year-old southpaw cricketer from NCC missed out on another deserving century when he was out for 98, the same score he was dismissed for in the second innings of the drawn first unofficial test.

Like in the first unofficial test Mishara got out in the nervous nineties edging a catch behind to wicket-keeper Mohammad Haris off Khuram Shahzad after defending 168 balls and hitting 15 fours. His dismissal ended a third wicket partnership of 143 with his captain.

Sri Lanka ‘A’ had begun the final day at 102-2, and added 96 runs in the morning session for the loss of Mishara’s wicket which fell in the penultimate over before lunch.   

Sri Lanka ‘A’ lost another wicket in the fourth over after lunch when Nuwanidu Fernando was run out without scoring, responding to his captain’s call for a sharp single to point and failing to beat the return of Qasim Akram to the wicket-keeper. Five overs later Sammu Ashan also departed with his score on 3 being stumped by Haris off left-arm spinner Safi Abdullah making Sri Lanka ‘A’ 216-5 still trailing by 111 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

However, Suminda Lakshan (25) stuck it out for 75 balls in a sixth wicket partnership that raised 68 runs with Samarawickrama before losing his wicket to the left-arm spin of Kamran Ghulam.

Himesh Ramanayake (4*) hung on with Samarawickrama for 9 overs adding 33 valuable runs for the seventh wicket to ensure a draw.

Naseem Shah who caused the Lankan batting debacle in the first innings with four wickets went wicketless in the second conceding 67 runs off 16 overs.

The two teams will play a three-match unofficial ODI series in Dambulla commencing 10 November.

Scores:

Sri Lanka ‘A’ 67 and 317-6 (86.4) (Kamil Mishara 98, Sadeera 151*, Sumida Lakshan 25, Khurram Shahzad 2/67)

Pakistan ‘A’ 394.