Sri Lanka’s Canberra tour match ends in high-scoring draw
View(s):SYDNEY, Dec 8 (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s only tour match before their three-test series against Australia ended in a draw in Canberra on
Sri Lanka Test cricket team’s wicketkeeper/batsman Prasanna Jayawardene was one of the batters from the touring party to come among runs in Australia ahead of their first match at Hobart which begins on Friday. - File Pic
Saturday when they declared on 396 for six at lunch on day three.
The tourists still trailed the 439 for six made by the Chairman’s XI but both sides agreed to bring an end to a high-scoring match on a Manuka Oval wicket that offered little to the bowlers.
Tillakaratne Dilshan, who retired unbeaten after reaching his century, high-scored for Sri Lanka with Prasanna Jayawardene (71), Dinesh Chandimal (57) and Kumar Sangakkara (55) also grabbing half centuries.
New South Wales lefthander Scott Henry plundered an unbeaten 207 in the Chairman’s XI innings, while test aspirant and captain Usman Khawaja made 56 before he was withdrawn from the match to play in the domestic Twenty20 competition.
Sri Lanka packed their squad with five fast bowlers and will expect a better return in the first test from next Friday in Hobart, where the Bellerive Oval has proved a happy hunting ground for pacemen in the last couple of years.
“It was a good wicket and a good practice match as all the batsmen managed to get a good hit,” wicketkeeper Jayawardene told reporters.
“I think we’ll get a different wicket from this in the test matches and I think our bowlers did okay.” The tourists, who have never won a test in Australia, also play matches in Melbourne and Sydney.
The Sri Lankan team will leave for Hobart on Sunday to continue their preparations, but their minds are focused on the challenge ahead.
While only Dhammika Prasad was a multiple wicket-taker for the tourists, and perhaps only Shaminda Eranga (1-22 off 13 overs) impressed from the fast bowlers, the make-up of their Test bowling attack remains unknown.
Wicket-keeper Jayawardene, who scored 71, confirmed star left-arm finger spinner Rangana Herath and paceman Nuwan Kulasekara will be in the Test team.
But Jayawardene refused to rule out taking both Herath and offspinner Suraj Randiv into the opening Test.
“It will depend on the wicket — we’ll have to go down there and see,” Jayawardene told reporters.
“Management and captain (Mahela Jayawardene) will do that. We’ll go with the good side and a good attitude. We’ll try to do our best.”
| Scoreboard
CA Chairman’s XI Sri Lankans Dimuth Karunaratne c Harris b Turner 40 |
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