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Lanka beaten by virtually unknown bunch
Mahroof heroics not sufficient for Lanka
Daminda Wijesuriya reporting from Mumbai
A no ball in the penultimate delivery by Dilhara Fernando saw Sri Lanka losing their tour opener to a virtually unknown bunch of cricketers representing the Mumbai Cricket Association Xl at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai yesterday. Chasing an impressive Sri Lanka score of 267 for 9, the home team made 268 for 7 and thus scraped to a three- wicket win in the last ball of the match.
For the MCA Xl opener V.R. Mane led the way with a well compiled knock of 75 runs made in 117 balls with seven fours. Following the opener one-drop batsman N.S. Shetty (58) and A.A. Muzumdar (56) also completed half centuries to make sure of the home team win.

Sri Lanka went into this game without theirtime tested duo of Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan along with Sanatha Jayasuriya who had to walk out after 24 balls of batting as a result of his recurring shoulder injury. However the next line of Sri Lanka bowlers could not stem stop the flow of runs by the MCA Xl who were always ahead of the required rate in spite of the final few overs when the Sri Lankans came back to grab five wickets to send the MCA from a commanding 2 for 183 in the 37th over to 7 for 257 in the 49th over.
Earlier, Sri Lanka's batting depth came in good stead after their top order failed to make an impression and get some vital match practice before their opening game against India on Tuesday.

The Lankan top order threw away their wickets with some loose stroke play. However their ace opener Sanath Jayasuriya, pulled out after a breezy 34 off 26 balls as his freak shoulder injury pain recurred . Luckily for the visitors some lower-order resistance from Farveez Maharoof (64 not out) pushed the score to 267 for 9 in 50 overs. Besides Mahroof middle order batsmen T.M. Dilshan (50) and Upul Chandana (35) too chipped in with useful scores.

Put in to bat, the Sri Lankans got off to a reasonable start, putting 30 before skipper Marvan Atapattu, flashed and Vinayak Samant completed the catch behind the stumps.

Soon after Jayasuriya had left the field, Sangakkara played one from Malvi straight back to the bowler. Then it was 57 for 2, and the Sri Lankans needed someone to consolidate. But, Lokuhettige, who was the super sub for Jayasuriya, was trapped lbw first ball. Then it was the turn of Mahela Jayawardene, to depart after flashing to Praful Waghela at point for 13.

Arnold and Dilshan added 53 for the fifth wicket when Nair put one in the right area and managed to get an edge from Arnold (35). Next in, Thilan Samaraweera also was out for nought, to give Nair his third wicket. Then Dilshan (50) was run out after a mix-up with Upul Chandana.

Then Chandana was dismissed, caught well by Amol Muzumdar at mid-off as an attempted big hit went high up in the air. Chandana's 37 had pushed the score along to 222 in the 47th over. Then Mahroof took control of the situation and guided his team with a few lusty blows to top score with 64 off 44 balls including four sixes which saw them to their final total of 267 for 9.

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