Saman Jayantha (97) and Sajith Fernando (56) add 149 runs for third wicket
Board XI - a healthy 318 for 6 wkts on day-one
By Ranjan Anandappa
Based on two half centuries by Sajith Fernando (56), Saman Jayantha (97) and an unbeaten 49 by Mahela Jayawardena, the Board President's XI ended the first day at 318 for 6 in their three day encounter cricket against the touring West Indies' 'A' at the Colombo Cricket Club grounds, Maitland Crescent yesterday.
Saman Jayantha who is playing his second game against the tourists, was in cracking form to top score with 97 with three sixes and eight fours compiled off 183 balls. He was also engaged in a third wicket stand of 149 with Sajith Fernando off 51.4 overs who had two fours in his 56.
Although the West Indian placemen Otis Gibson and Cameron Cuffy failed to get the early break through, spinners skipper Roger Harper and Rawl Lewis took three wickets apiece.
Tall right-arm leg-spinner Rawl Lewis bowled exceptionally well to send three of the Board XI batsmen back in quick succession when they were just about to take control and looking for a bigger first innings score. Lewis bowled Sajith Fernando and had Saman Jayantha caught in the slips by Powell and trapped skipper Ruwan Kalpage leg before for 3.
Off-spinner Roger Harper accounted for the two openers Ruwin Pieris (30) and Chaminda Mendis (29) after the Board XI decided to bat first after winning the toss. He later came to get the wicket of hard hitting left-hander Hemantha Wickremaratne (20) caught by wicketkeeper Shane Ford for 20. Mahela Jayawardena and Chamara Dunusinghe added a further unfinished 40 runs for the fifth wick- et. Jayawardena batted resolutely to be unbeaten on 49 facing 119 deliveries with five boundaries.
The match will be continued today from 9.30 am onwards till 6 p.m.
On Monday, the match will commence at 9.30 a.m. and will end at 1 p.m. as a mark of respect to the late former President J. R. Jayewardene.
====> REPORT (Day 2, 3 November 1996)
Sri Lanka Board President's XI vs West Indies 'A'
By Sa'adi Thawfeeq
West Indies 'A' had every reason to be happy with their performance on day two of the 3-day tour game against a Sri Lanka Board President's XI played at the CCC grounds Sunday.
Replying to the President's XI score of 340, the tourists ended the day on 343 for six wickets.
Philo Wallace followed his opening partner Stuart Williams (who scored a century in the opening game against Sri Lanka Colts) by completing a scintillating century. There were also notable contributions from David Joseph (93) and Tony Powell (50). These three batsmen combined to hit a total of 14 sixes during the day which was lengthened by 90 minutes to make up for the loss of time today when the match will be terminated at 1 p.m. as a mark of respect to the late President J.R. Jayewardene.
The six-foot-plus tall Wallace from Barbados led the flurry of sixes by hitting eight of them in his innings of 125 which lasted 265 minutes and 189 balls. He also had 10 fours. Half the number of sixes and fours were scored in his first half-century which came off 67 balls in 105 minutes.
Wallace combined with Joseph in lifting his side from an unstable 16 for 2 with a third wicket stand of 191 in 163 minutes - fast bowler Erik Upashantha having achieved early success with the new ball by taking two quick wickets including that of the man in form Stuart Williams for 10.
Joseph, a right-hander from Antigua was also in a belligerent mood hitting five sixes and eight fours in his score of 93 scored off 113 balls in 163 minutes.
Wallace finally fell to teenage leg-spinner Nimesh Perera attempting a pull and being caught at long-leg by Saman Jayantha. It was some cause of satisfaction for the bowler, considered by many to be a potential national player for the future. Perera came for some harsh treatment by the batsmen being hit for six sixes while conceding 116 runs in 27 overs.
Powell played well within himself to complete a half-century in 142 minutes with six fours and a six before off-spinner Kalpage bowled him around his legs.
The second new ball taken shortly before the close failed to achieve the desired breakthrough as Shane Ford and Ottis Gibson put together an unfinished seventh wicket stand of 43 in 54 minutes.
Mahela Jayawardena of whom much was expected when the Board President's XI resumed from their total of 318 for 6 disappointed, when he added just one run to his overnight score of 49 before hitting back a simple return catch to Cameron Cuffy. The rest of the batting folded up cheaply, the last four wickets adding 22 runs in 53 minutes with fast men Cuffy and Gibson sharing the spoils.