HAMBANTOTA – An impressive century stand for the eighth wicket between Shane Shillingford and Nikita Miller averted an innings defeat but offered little hope of a significant comeback as West Indies A suffered a humiliating ten-wicket loss to Sri Lanka A on the fourth day of their opening four-day “Test” yesterday.
Shillingford and Miller spearheaded a tail-end rally to reverse a batting slump before Sri Lanka mopped up remaining resistance and coasted to an easy target without losing a wicket in the morning session at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium.
Openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Jehan Mubarak got to 34 runs in only 4.3 overs after West Indies, resuming from an overnight 267 for seven, were bowled out for 285 in their second innings.
Shillingford and Miller helped the visitors avert an innings defeat on the third day with a powerful half-century stand for the eighth wicket which matured into a 106-run stand on the final day.
Shillingford, 56 overnight, was bowled by Vishwa Fernando for a well-played 63 highlighted by three fours and five sixes, while Miller, 37 overnight, also perished from the bowling of Fernando.
Miller struck four fours and a six in his knock of 46 as the West Indies A were only able to add 18 more runs on the fourth morning.
The West Indies tail-enders were seeking to consolidate on a top score of 77 from Test batsman Kirk Edwards while Jermaine Blackwood contributed 39.
Dimuth Karunarate, whose century in the first innings had helped to put on a strong total, and Seekugge Prasanna, who returned with a match haul of nine wickets, were the outstanding players for Sri Lanka.
West Indies A lead the three-match series one-nil while the next match is scheduled to start on Saturday, in Matara. (CMC)
