Lions look lame as Sri Lanka take firm grip on proceedings
ENGLAND Lions endured a chastening day in the field as Sri Lanka A took control of their second four-day match in Dambulla.
Sadeera Samarawickrama and Dimuth Karunaratne, who has played 36 Tests, shared an unbroken 303-run partnership to take the match away from the Lions, who were earlier bowled out for 353.
The tourists had resumed day two on 339 for nine – built around Liam Livingstone’s century – but uncapped left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara quickly wrapped up the innings with his eighth wicket.
Sri Lanka A slumped to 30 for three in reply as Tom Curran, Toby Roland-Jones and Ollie Rayner each picked up a wicket.
But Samarawickrama (177) and Karunaratne (140) came together to make light work of the Lions spinners, with last year’s top English wicket-taker Jack Leach going for 76 off 12 overs as the hosts closed on 333 for three.
KENT are “pretty relaxed” that assistant coach Allan Donald will be able to join up with the rest of the staff ahead of the new season despite reports the South African is struggling to obtain a visa.
Donald was appointed assistant to new head coach
Matt Walker in January but a report suggested the former fast bowler, who took 330 wickets in a glittering Test career, was facing a delay in obtaining the necessary paperwork as he did not hold the right coaching qualifications.
However, a Kent spokesman insisted the process was ongoing and that they were confident of resolving the situation ahead of the players reporting back for pre-season training.
“He hasn’t been denied a visa, we’re waiting on an application,” he said. “It’s a case of which visa he’s entitled to. The ECB has guidelines as to which qualifications you should hold, if that’s for a head coach or an assistant coach – he won’t be here year round, only for the domestic season.
“The application can take several weeks or even months.”