Uphill task for Sri Lanka ‘A’ in first 4-day unofficial test

Wednesday, 16 July 2025 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Australia ‘A’ celebrate wicket of Lahiru Udara in Sri Lanka ‘A’ second innings

Trail Australia ‘A’ by 165 runs with 9 wickets in hand

Sri Lanka ‘A’ faced an uphill task of trying to save the first 4-day unofficial test against Australia ‘A’ after the hosts had taken a massive 214-run lead in the first innings at Marrara Oval, Darwin yesterday.

Liam Scott, Josh Philippe and Mitchell Perry turned the screws on Sri Lanka ‘A’ on day three to put Australia ‘A’ in command of the match.

Australia ‘A’ lost Nathan Sweeney to the day’s first ball for 94 – but batters six, seven and eight completed impressive half-centuries to build Australia ‘A’ a formidable first-innings score. When the innings came to an end around an hour before stumps, Australia ‘A’ had gone from a shaky 127-4 on day two to be all out for 486.

Sweeney had resumed seeking six more runs for the century but he was bowled between bat and pad by a sharp delivery from paceman Promod Madushan (3/82) which moved back off the seam. His innings off 220 balls included six fours.

Sweeney’s South Australia teammate Scott also missed out on a century when he was dismissed for 94, scored off 221 balls (6 fours). The all-rounder holed out to mid-on against left-arm spinner Sonal Dinusha (4/97), who was the pick of Sri Lanka ‘A’s bowlers. Scott added 98 for the sixth wicket with Philippe.

Philippe and Perry kept the runs coming in a 58-run stand before the former was trapped lbw to Nishan Peiris for an aggressive 85 off 107 deliveries (5 fours, 1 six). Perry continued in building a more steady 61 (off 135 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) before he was also caught off Dinusha, mistiming a drive to extra cover.

Sri Lanka ‘A’ were quick out of the blocks in their second innings with Lahiru Udara taking 12 runs from Perry off the first five deliveries of the innings. He soon died by the sword, however, skying an attempted pull off paceman Henry Thornton to keeper Philippe on 17, before Sri Lanka ‘A’ reached stumps on 49-1.

Scores: Sri Lanka ‘A’ 272 and 49-1 at close (Kamil Mishara 26*)

Australia ‘A’ 486 (o/n 241-4) (Jake Weatherald 54, Nathan McSweeney 94, Liam Scott 94, Josh Phillipe 85, Mitchell Perry 61, Zanden Jeh 27, Nishan Peiris 2/137, Pramod Madushan 3/82, Sonal Dinusha 4/97)

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