Isitha puts Sri Lanka ‘A’ on path to victory

Thursday, 1 May 2025 01:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Scythes through Afghan batting with 6/35

Isitha Wijesundara

Sonal Dinusha

A magnificent spell of right-arm fast bowling by 27-year-old Isitha Wijesundara has placed Sri Lanka ‘A’ in a winning position at the end of the second day of the one-off 4-day unofficial cricket Test against Afghanistan ‘A’ played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

After Sri Lanka ‘A’ had carried their overnight total from 345-8 to 406 with Sonal Dinusha contributing an undefeated 104 off 121 balls (10 fours, 3 sixes), Wijesundara scythed through the Afghanistan ‘A’ batting to bowl them out for 168. He ended with excellent figures of 6/35 off 11 overs with only one Afghan batsman getting past fifty – Afsar Zazai (54 off 107 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) before falling to Wijesundara.

Ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Rathnayake proved an ideal foil to Wijesundara taking 3/26 off 11 overs.

Sri Lanka ‘A’ built on their massive first innings lead of 238 by scoring 98-1 by the close stretching it to 336 runs. Kamil Mishara (28*) and Nuwanidu Fernando (66* off 75 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes) have so far added 97 for the second wicket following the loss of Lahiru Udara for a duck.

The match continues on its third day today.

Scores: Sri Lanka ‘A’ 406 (o/n 345-8) (Lahiru Udara 107, Kamil Mishara 35, Sadeera Samarawickrama 44, Sonal Dinusha 104*, Bashir Ahmad 4/77, Ziaur Rahman 2/93) and 98-1 at close (Kamil Mishara 28*, Nuwanidu Fernando 66*)

Afghanistan ‘A’ 168 (Afsar Zazai 54, Shams ur Rahman 20, Ziaur Rahman 22, Isitha Wijesundara 6/35, Tharindu Rathnayake 3/26)