Tharanga outshines Bravo to lead SLC XI to two-wicket win

Tuesday, February 18, 2020 - 01:00

Sri Lanka Cricket XI captain Upul Tharanga celebrates his century watched by partner Asela Gunaratne who helped him in a stand of 198.

Former Sri Lanka ODI captain Upul Tharanga upstaged Darren Bravo of West Indies to lead Sri Lanka Cricket XI to a two-wicket win in a one-day warm-up match played at the P Sara Oval yesterday.

Tharanga leading Sri Lanka Cricket XI helped his side recover from losing the first two wickets for one run in Sheldon Cottrell’s opening over to chase down West Indians’ tall score of 282, reaching 283-8 in 47.3 overs to win with 15 balls to spare.

West Indian batsman Darren Bravo drives through the covers during his knock of hundred.

Tharanga struck 16 fours and a six in his 124-ball knock for 120 and figured in a match winning stand of 198 with another former Sri Lanka one-day cricketer Asela Gunaratne who made 64 off 75 balls inclusive of seven fours.

Following their dismissal West Indies managed to crawl back into the match with the wickets of Sadeera Samarawickrema (0), Angelo Perera (12), Ashen Bandara (4) and Lahiru Udara (22) as the home side lost four wickets for 42 to slump to 253 for 8, but Thikshila de Silva (25 n.o. off 23 balls) and Pulina Tharanga (11 n.o. off 11 balls) carried them over the line without any further loss adding 30 off 26 balls.

Spinners Hayden Walsh (leg-spin) and Fabian Allen (slow left-arm) caused the middle-order slump after Cottrell’s opening burst.

The West Indians gave the hosts the luxury of 16 extra balls by delivering 13 wides and 3 no-balls.

Earlier West Indians winning the toss and choosing to bat first also lost two early wickets with openers Shai Hope and Brandon King both being dismissed without scoring, but Darren Bravo winning his first recall to the West Indies side since post-World Cup axing hit a brilliant century off 88 balls (14 fours, 1 six) before retiring.

Scores of 41 apiece from Sunil Ambris and Nicholas Pooran saw them reach 282 all out in 49.4 overs.

Sri Lanka under 19 World Cup left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka was the pick of the Sri Lanka Cricket XI bowlers capturing the key wickets of King, Jason Holder and skipper Kieron Pollard for 47 runs. His new ball partner Asitha Fernando took 2 for 17.

West Indians play their second one-day warm-up match against a Sri Lanka Cricket President’s XI at Katunayake on February 20 before taking on Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series commencing at the SSC on Saturday (February 22).