Kusal, Nisala rescue Sri Lanka ‘A’
Kusal Perera and Nisala Tharaka came to the rescue of Sri Lanka ‘A’ when they were struggling and in a spot of bother with six of their top batsmen back in the pavilion with just 100 runs on the board, enabling them to end with a respectable score of 273 on day one of the third unofficial Test match played at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium.
Kusal having made ton in the first match, though being unable to make any contribution in the second unofficial Test match at Pallekele Stadium, put in another superb batting performance cracking 90 in 101 balls that included 12 boundaries and two sixes. He along with Nisala, who made 76 with 11 boundaries and two sixes - which was also his maiden international half-ton - associated in a valuable 124-run stand for the seventh-wicket in 168 balls which took the host side to safety.
Earlier in the day Sri Lanka ‘A’ invited to take first lease of the wicket by Pakistan ‘A’ skipper FawadAlam lost two quick wickets, that of Udara Jayasundara and Dhananjaya de Silva, with 21 runs on the board. Kithruwan Vithanage and Madawa Warnapura added 55 runs for the third wicket before they were separated with the dismissal of Madawa. With Sri Lanka ‘A’ on 76 for 3 they fell back again losing another two quick wickets at 89.
Struggling at 89 for 5, which included the wicket of Vithanage who made 48 with eight boundaries, they fell into deeper trouble. Asela Gunaratne who had a successful series became the next victim, being able to make a score of only four runs before Kusal and Nisala came to the rescue of the side.
Though it was the right and leftarm pace combination of Tabish Khan and Mir Hamza who did the damage in the early stages, it was skipper and left-arm spinner Alam and right-arm pacie ShehzadAzam who together shared seven wickets who were responsible in restricting the host side to a score of 273.
Pakistan ‘A’in their turn playing with caution, facing 14 overs ended the day on 20 for no loss.The match will be continued today.