MORATUWA – Captain Carlos Brathwaite and leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo engineered a West Indies A fightback with two wickets apiece, as the honours were shared evenly on the second day of the third and final four-day “Test” yesterday.
At the close, Sri Lanka A were 248 for six in reply to West Indies A’s first innings of 282 all out at the Tyronne Fernando Stadium, only 34 runs behind.
Seamer Brathwaite picked up two for 20 from eight tight overs while Bishoo grabbed two for 81 in an expensive outing.
However, they combined to pull back Sri Lanka A who were cruising at one stage behind knocks of 77 from captain and opener Upul Tharanga, 43 not out from Dinesh Chandimal and 38 from Kusal Perera.
The left-handed Tharanga anchored two successive half-century partnerships to put the hosts in early command. He added 72 for the first wicket with Perera before putting on a further 66 for the second wicket with Lahiru Thirimanne who got 21.
Tharanga, who has played 19 Tests, faced 120 balls and counted 12 fours.
Part-time off-spinner Jermaine Blackwood got the breakthrough, having Perera caught at the wicket after the left-hander had struck four fours and a six in his 48-ball stay at the crease. (CMC)
