Monday Apr 20, 2026
Monday Apr 20, 2026
Monday, 20 April 2026 02:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sonal Dinusha celebrates his century
Curtis Heaphy and Tim Robinson batting during their double century partnership of 218
Tim Pringle (centre) was the most successful bowler in the match with a bag of six wickets
New Zealand ‘A’ who lost the 3-match unofficial ODI series 3-0 to Sri Lanka ‘A’ can be quite content with their performance in the first 4-day unofficial test which ended in a tame draw at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Hambantota yesterday.
Centuries from Sonal Dinusha for Sri Lanka ‘A’ and from Curtis Heaphy and Tim Robinson for New Zealand ‘A’ featured the high scoring match where 1028 runs were scored for the loss of 24 wickets.
Dinusha’s knock of 108 off 148 balls (9 fours, 1 six) enabled Sri Lanka ‘A’ to recover from 147-4 to total 381 in the first innings. New Zealand ‘A’ lost their first wicket with the score on 27, but a double century stand of 218 between Heaphy and Robinson put them on course to overhaul Sri Lanka ‘A’s score. Heaphy played the anchor role facing 370 balls for his innings of 162 that comprised 9 fours. Robinson was more enterprising striking 13 fours in scoring 130 off 229 balls.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ fought back to capture nine wickets for 405, but were stalled by a last wicket partnership of 74 by no. 10 Fraser Sheat who went onto make a career best 61* off 60 balls (6 fours, 1 six) and Jarrod McKay (7). Despite the placid surface Sri Lankan bowlers kept to a tight line and length not allowing New Zealand ‘A’ to score freely. Their average run rate was 3.11 compared to Sri Lanka ‘A’s 3.89.
In the remaining time left Sri Lanka ‘A’ scored 168-4 with Nuwanidu Fernando seizing the opportunity to score an unbeaten 50 off 77 balls (7 fours). Left-arm spinner Tim Pringle captured three of the wickets for 50 runs.
The second 4-day unofficial test begins at Galle on 23 April. – [ST]
Scores:
Sri Lanka ‘A’ 381 (Nishan Madushka 20, Lahiru Udara 61, Nuwanidu Fernando 21, Pavan Rathnayake 27, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 32, Sonal Dinusha 108, Ramesh Mendis 48, Isitha Wijesundara 36, Ryan Harrison 2/60, Tim Pringle 3/88, Peter Younghusband 2/97) and 168-4 (Nishan Madushka 25, Lahiru Udara 39, Nuwanidu Fernando 50*, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 20, Tim Pringle 3/50)
New Zealand ‘A’ 479 (Curtis Heaphy 162, Tim Robinson 130, Matthew Boyle 26, Mitchell Hay 33, Fraser Sheat 61*, Isitha Wijesundara 2/56, Ramesh Mendis 2/105, Sonal Dinusha 2/72)
