Madushka spearheads Sri Lanka ‘A’ reply after Smith century

Jamie Smith of England Lions rejoices on reaching his century

Chamika Karunaratne celebrates a wicket on his way to a four-wicket haul for Sri Lanka ‘A’

Nishan Madushka sweeps for runs during his unbeaten innings of 84

Kamindu Mendis drives on his way to a half-century

• Second 4-day unofficial test at Galle

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Run machine Nishan Madushka put himself in line for yet another century when he made an unbeaten 84 in Sri Lanka ‘A’s second innings reply of 202-3 after England Lions had taken a first innings lead of 73 on the third day of the second 4-day unofficial test played at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Madushka who has already scored two centuries in the two matches he has played against the touring side, struck 13 fours and one six in his 118-ball innings as he led a Sri Lanka ‘A’ batting revival along with opening partner Lasith Croospulle and Kamindu Mendis. Sri Lanka ‘A’ lead overall by 129 runs with seven second innings wickets in hand going into the fourth and final day today.

By tea, Madushka and Croospulle had wiped out the first innings deficit. Croospulle who made a century in the first innings fell for 47 after posting a first wicket stand of 91 with Madushka. Mendis joined Madushka in another partnership of 100 that was broken only in the final over of the day when Mendis fell to off-spinner Jack Carson for a sublime 67 scored off 76 balls (11 fours).

Led by Surrey’s 22-year-old wicket-keeper/batsman Jamie Smith’s sixth first-class hundred and Test opener Alex Lees’ innings of 97, England Lions gained a handy 73-run first innings lead over Sri Lanka ‘A’.

Lees and Smith carried their overnight fourth wicket partnership to worth 169 before being separated when Lees three short of a century paid the penalty of playing the reverse sweep to a ball from left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama and only ended up giving a catch to slip. Lees departed having faced 113 balls and hit 10 fours.

England Lions lost Smith and Tom Haines off successive overs from Chamika Karunaratne to slide to 307-6. Smith, having reached his century off 71 balls, was eventually dismissed for 126 having hit 13 fours and eight sixes in a fine exhibition of controlled hitting.

Any chance Sri Lanka ‘A’ had of ending the England Lions innings early petered out when the late order kept it afloat for another 30 overs during which period, they added a further 98 runs before it was terminated at 405. Liam Patterson-White (24), Matthew Fisher (35*) and Josh Tongue (29) all made important contributions to swell the total.

Karunaratne playing his first first-class match in three years finished with four wickets although he was on the expensive side conceding 6.14 runs per over. His new ball partner Vishwa Fernando bowled with more control to end with three wickets at an economy rate of 3.95.  

Scores: 

Sri Lanka ‘A’ 332 and 202-3 at close (Nishan Madushka 84*, Lasith Croospulle 47, Kamindu Mendis 67, Jack Carson 2/52)

England Lions 405 (o/n 243-3) (Alex Lees 97, Josh Bohannon 54, Jamie Smith 126, Liam Patterson-White 24, Matthew Fisher 35*, Josh Tongue 29, Vishwa Fernando 3/83, Chamika Karu-naratne 4/84, Praveen Jayawickrama 2/59)