Sri Lanka youngsters put WI Academy to the sword
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HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka (CMC):
Pulindu Perera’s century led a dominant batting display by Sri Lanka Emerging Players as the West Indies Academy’s bowlers were made to toil with little success on the second day of the second unofficial ‘Test’ at the Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Perera smashed an aggressive 145, Ravindu Rasantha and Asitha Wanninayake both scored half centuries, and other useful contributions from the middle order saw Sri Lanka compile a mammoth 430 for four in 97 overs.
It gave the home side an already dominant lead of 199 runs, having restricted the Academy to just 231 in their first innings.
Resuming the day on 37 without loss, Perera and Rasantha shared an opening stand of 168 while scoring at more than four runs an over to grab the early initiative.
Pacer Raneico Smith finally made the breakthrough for the Academy by having Rasantha caught for 60 off 126 balls.
His dismissal brought Wanninayake to the crease, and together with Perera, they carried Sri Lanka past the Academy’s first-innings total during a 94-run partnership for the second wicket.
Perera’s impressive innings came to an end when left-arm spinner Giovonte DePeiza dismissed him after he had faced 188 balls and struck 14 fours and one six, making the score 262 for two.
Sri Lanka continued to pile on the pressure, with Wanninayake and Sahan Kosala further frustrating the Academy bowlers during a partnership of 76.
Leg spinner Zishan Motara claimed both batters’ wickets in quick succession, trapping Wanninayake lbw for 60 off 102 balls and having Kosal caught for 38, to see Sri Lanka slip to 359 for four.
However, there would be no more success for the visitors for the remainder of the day, with Anjala Bandara and Sharujan Shanmuganathan sharing an unbroken stand of 71.
Bandara ended the day on 48 not out, while Shanmuganathan is unbeaten on 33, to put Sri Lanka in complete control of the contest heading into Wednesday’s penultimate day.
Motara has so far taken 2-101 for the Academy.