Test fast bowler Lahiru Kumara warmed up for the first Test against England with an impressive opening spell of bowling for Sri Lanka Board XI on the second day of the second 2-day warm-up match which ended in a draw at the CCC grounds yesterday.
The 21-year-old Kumara proved what a fine seamer he is when he removed three of England’s top order batsmen within the space of five balls to have England collapse from 28-0 to 28-3 before Keaton Jennings with a solid 45 in 33 overs and Ben Stokes taking on the spinners confidently to score 53 off 58 balls (6 fours, 1 six) figured in a 80-run stand on a slow sluggish pitch to stall the early collapse.
Jos Buttler (25), Ben Foakes (19 n.o.) and Sam Curran using his feet to the spinners to score an unbeaten 48 off 50 balls (7 fours, 1 six) ensured England reached a respectable score of 210-6 in 50 overs before the innings was closed.
In the Board XI’s reply of 200-7 in 50 overs two young cricketers Avishka Fernando and Charith Asalanka shone with some fine batting.
Fernando who took successive sixes off Sam Curran made a run a ball 47 inclusive of 7 fours and 2 sixes and Asalanka batted beautifully to score 68 off 64 balls with 3 sixes and 6 fours before retiring.
The match was reduced to a one-day affair after the first day was washed out by rain.
This is England’s final warm-up game before the three-Test series against Sri Lanka that commences at the Galle Stadium on Tuesday.
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