Weatherald (183), Sangha (121*) put Sri Lanka ‘A’ bowling to sword

Second 4-day unofficial cricket test v Australia ‘A’

Wednesday, 23 July 2025 00:14 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Jake Weatherald continued his best summer with 183 for Australia ‘A’

Captain Jason Sangha shines for Australia ‘A’ with a ton

Jake Weatherald’s 13th first-class century and skipper Jason Sangha’s unbeaten knock of 121 saw Australia ‘A’ come up with a powerful reply on day three of the second 4-day unofficial test against Sri Lanka ‘A’ at the Marrara Oval, Darwin yesterday.

Australia ‘A’ finished on 379-3 in reply to Sri Lanka ‘A’s first innings of 485-6 declared, to trail by 106 runs going into the fourth and final day today. The game is destined to end in a draw like the first unofficial test.

Weatherald blitzed 183 off 275 balls (16 fours, 2 sixes) on a docile Marrara pitch. The Darwin-born left-handed opener had some nervous moments as he approached his milestone and had to sit on 96* over the lunch break. A quick single off quick Shiran Fernando brought up his century, which he celebrated by placing his helmet on the end of his bat and raising it above his head, much to the delight of his teammates. The 30-year-old crashed everything outside off for four and was selective in his big shots against the spinners and was only out, chopped on, in the final overs of the day.

Weatherald shared a 209-run partnership with his captain Sangha, who not to be outdone, finished the day unbeaten on 121 (206 balls, 9 fours, 1 six). Sangha hit a series of delightful drives in his typical innings, which will no doubt ease the pain of making a duck in last week’s four-day fixture.

Weatherald is coming off the best summer of his career where he finished as the leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield, plundering 905 runs with centuries against Queensland (186), Victoria (155) and New South Wales (145).

Earlier, the Aussies resumed the day on 76-1 and NSW No.3 Kurtis Patterson compiled a composed 59 off 103 balls (8 fours) before Sonal Dinusha took a sharp catch at backward point from a full-blooded square drive. However with no demons in the Marrara wicket, it was a day for the batters.

Scores: Sri Lanka ‘A’ 485-6 decl;

Australia ‘A’ 369-3 at close (o/n 76-1) (Jake Weatherald 183, Kurtis Patterson 59, Jason Sangha 121*)