Hard day’s work for SL A bowlers

The visiting Ireland A side made the Sri Lanka A bowlers toil on the second day of the second unofficial Test match played at the Sooriyawewa Stadium in Hambantota, posting a mammoth 508 for 8 declared.

The Irish had resumed from their overnight score of 286 for 4.

Overnight pair Neil Rock and Lorcan Tucker further consolidated the side’s batting and, having already added 128 runs on day one, put on a further 35 runs before being separated when Tucker was dismissed for 80.

His innings included eight boundaries and two sixes and a partnership of 163 runs for the fifth wicket with Rock.

Rock was the next to fall after a brief 46-run stand for the sixth wicket with Mark Adair with both batsmen being dismissed on the same score of 367.

James Cameron-dow and Jonathan Garth further frustrated the Sri Lanka A bowlers putting on 108 runs for the eighth wicket before the visitors made their declaration with the score on 508 for the loss of 8.

Chamika Karunaratne and Lasith Embuldeniya were the two bowlers from the eight that were used who finished with success, sharing six wickets between them.

Sri Lanka A in reply underwent early setbacks, losing openers Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando with 13 runs on the board. Angelo Perera along with skipper Ashan Priyanjan came to the side’s rescue, with the pair adding 81 runs for the third wicket, before being separated.

Sri Lanka A ended day two on 99 for 3 trailing by 408 runs. The match will be continued today.

Ireland A (286/4 overnight) 508 for 8 declared (Neil Rock 85, Lorcan Tucker 80, James Mccollum 72, Stephen Doheny 58, Jonathan Garth 45, James Cameron-dow 76 n.o.: Chamika Karunaratne 3 for 99, Lasith Embuldeniya 3 for 142)

Sri Lanka A 99 for 3 (Ashan Priyanjan 27, Angelo Perera 50 n.o.: Craig Young 2 for 9). -MSA