Saturday Jun 13, 2026
Saturday Jun 13, 2026
Friday, 12 June 2026 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Anjala Bandara, the 22-year-old left-hand bat and wicket-keeper from CCC was the saviour of the first 4-day unofficial cricket test between Sri Lanka Emerging Players and the touring West Indies Academy team when he played another stellar innings to force a draw at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium, Hambantota yesterday.
Bandara followed his first innings knock of 163 with a brilliant unbeaten 188 in the second as Sri Lanka Emerging Players trailing West Indies Academy by 25 runs in the first innings recovered from losing five wickets for 91 to post an impressive 401-8 in their second.
Bandara and Pulindu Perera each with a half-century under their belts resumed the Sri Lanka Emerging Players second innings from the overnight score of 173-5 carrying their sixth wicket partnership to worth 162. Perera was unfortunate to miss out on a hundred when he was dismissed for 87, scored off 109 balls with 10 fours.
Bandara joined by Tharinda Nimal (41 off 98 balls, 3 fours) further frustrated the West Indies Academy bowling with another partnership worth 92 for the seventh wicket. In the meantime Bandara completed his second century of the match off 178 balls with a single, but lost Perera to the next ball ending the match-saving partnership. He continued to dominate the West Indies Academy bowling reaching 150 off 272 balls and was left unconquered on 188 when the match ended, having hit 13 fours in his 324-ball stay at the wicket.
West Indies Academy tried as many as eight bowlers but all their efforts were blunted by Bandara and his two partners Perera and Nimal who helped him raise the total by 254 runs for the sixth and seventh wickets. Fast bowler Johann Layne who wrecked the top order failed to add to his three wickets and ended with figures of 3/61 off 16 overs.
The second 4-day unofficial test will take place at the same venue starting on 15 June. – [ST]
Scores:
Sri Lanka Emerging Players 356 and 401-8 (o/n 173-5) (Dinura Kalupahana 25, Anjala Bandara 188*, Pulindu Perera 87, Tharinda Nimal 41, Jediah Blades 2/43, Johann Layne 3/61)
West Indies Academy 381 (o/n 273-5) (Damel Evelyn 35, Mavendra Dindyal 60, Shaqkere Parris 55, Rivaldo Clarke 127, Amari Goodridge 28, Johann Layne 35, Nisala Abeyratne 2/76, Chamod Battage 2/65, Shakthi Udara 6/102)
