Sri Lanka A pull one back with six wicket D/L win

A five-wicket haul by right arm pacie Chamika Karunaratne and half tons from Sangeeth Cooray, Niroshan Dickwella and Shehan Jayasuriya paved the way for Sri Lanka A to pull off a six-wicket win on the Duckworth/lewis method against host India A in the third unofficial ODI encounter played at the Union Gymkhana in Belgaum yesterday.

Sri Lanka A were making steady progress in pursuit of 292 for victory and had reached 221 for 4 in 40 overs when rain stopped play. On resumption Sri Lanka were set a revised target of 266 to win in 46 overs -- effectively needing 45 runs off six overs.

Sri Lanka reached the target with 13 balls to spare with Jayasuriya unbeaten on 66 and Dasun Shanaka not out on 36. Sri Lanka A in their run quest were given a sound start by openers Cooray and Dickwella who together added 82 runs before being separated with the dismissal of Dickwella.

Dickwella had made 62 of those runs in a 58-ball knock that included ten boundaries.

Cooray, who made a top score of 88 in 103 balls which had ten boundaries and three sixes, associated in another valuable stand of 102 runs in 97 balls with Jayasuriya for the third wicket.

Earlier in the day India A skipper Ishan Kishan winning the toss and electing to take first lease of the wicket got off to a flying start as he along with Prashant Chopra put on 72 runs.

Prashant who made a 125-ball knock of 129 inclusive of 17 boundaries added 109 runs for the third wicket with Deepak Hooda who chipped in with 53 which helped India A post a formidable score of 291 in their allotted overs.

For Sri Lanka A right arm pacie Karunaratne ended with impressive figures of 5 for 36 off his ten overs. The win saw Sri Lanka A reduce the deficit to 1-2 in the five-match series. The two teams will play their 4th unofficial ODI on June 13 at Hubli.

At Belgaum –

India A 291 for 8 in 50 overs (Prashant Chopra 129, Deepak Hooda 53, Shivam Dube 28, Washington Sundar 26, Ishan Kishan 25: Chamika Karunaratne 5 for 36)

Sri Lanka A (revised target of 266 in 46 overs) 266 for 4 in 43.5 overs (Sangeeth Cooray 88, Niroshan Dickwella 62, Shehan Jayasuriya 66 n.o., Dasun Shanaka 36 n.o.: Shivam Dube 2 for 27)