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NZ ‘A’ take the series 1-0
Lone Kapugedara shines in the gloom
By Marlon Fernandopulle
Chamara Kapugedara stroked a sparkling half century to light up the gloom as the Sri Lanka A –New Zealand A third four day game ended in a tame draw at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium yesterday.

Rain and bad light which permitted only 112 overs in the first three days had its say again yesterday when only 48.2 overs were bowled after three interruptions. Umpires Gamini Silva and Ranmore Martinez finally called off play at 4.00 p m to give the tourists a deserving 1-0 triumph in the three match series.

For the young Sri Lankan hopefuls it was the same story as their batting crumbled once again. Openers Avishka Gunawardene (04), Ian Daniel (00) and Jehan Mubarak (06) were back in the pavilion in the 4th over of the innings as Sri Lanka slumped to 11 for 3 wickets. All three wickets were taken by right arm medium pacer G Aldridge who made full use of the conditions to swing the ball and force the Lankan batsmen to make mistakes.

However Jeewan Mendis (27) and Chamara Kapugedara weathered the storm with some sensible bating to add a useful 74 runs for the 4th wicket before Mendis departed. Soon after wicket keeper Gehan de Silva followed and the Lankans were reeling at 91 for 5 wickets. Right hander Kapugedera stood firm as wickets fell on the other side and was joined by Malinga Bandara in a rescue act that eventually saved the blushes for the Lankans.

Kapugedera, the former Dharmaraja schoolboy who was rewarded for his consistency for his club CCC mixed caution with aggression as he hit six boundaries and three sixes to compile an elegant 70. Together with Bandara (35) the pair added 63 runs for the sixth wicket before medium pacer Aldridge returned to pick up Kapugedara. Bandara followed without any addition as Sri Lanka slipped to 156 for 7 wickets.

New Zealand A– 365 for 7 declared
Sri Lanka A -160/7 (Jeewan Mendis 27, Chamara Kapugedara 70, Malinga Bandara 35, G Aldridge 4/29, P Wiseman 2/20)

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