Before their three-match Test series in England, Sri Lanka’s only tour match is against the inexperienced Lions in Worcester, where they have to fight to stay in the game after falling behind heavily in the first innings.
With no batter reaching 30, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 139 in just 43.5 overs on Wednesday. Zaman Akhter of Gloucestershire claimed 5 for 32, his second five-wicket haul of his first-class career. After losing four wickets on the first evening, three of which came from Prabath Jayasuriya’s left-arm spin, the Lions went into the second day with a six-run lead.But the Lions had secured a first-inning lead of 185 when rain forced the second day to end early. On his first-class debut, 18-year-old Warwickshire batsman Hamza Shaikh scored 91 runs from position four and combined with Somerset all-rounder Kasey Aldridge for a 104-run stand at the seventh wicket. Aldridge amassed 78 runs.
“England Lions are led by Shaikh and Aldridge as they battle to save the tour match against SL.”
After bowling 31.2 overs, Jayasuriya finished with 5 for 102, while Kasun Rajitha took 2 for 51 from 19. However, Lahiru Kumara, who hasn’t participated in a match since June, was costly; in his 18 overs, he gave up 92 runs and only dismissed Ajeet Singh Dale, the last man standing.With two first-class debutants in Shaikh and Farhan Ahmed (whose older brother Rehan has played for England in all three formats), the Lions are fielding a side below strength. Only Josh Hull, who has played twice for Manchester Originals, has been removed by the ECB from the Hundred, which is made up of the majority of the nation’s top young players.
Since their tour of Bangladesh ended at the beginning of April, Sri Lanka has not played a Test match, and the majority of their team has not participated in any first-class cricket since the domestic four-day tournament concluded in early May. Vishwa Fernando, who is not participating in the match against the Lions, took 12 wickets in his two Yorkshire appearances in June.Following the tour match, Sri Lanka’s 18-man team will head to Manchester in preparation for the first of three Test matches against England, which get underway at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday. Ian Bell, a former England batter, has been brought in as a batting coach for the series and will be joining them in Manchester to offer local knowledge.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 139 is trailed by 185 runs by the England Lions (324; Hamza Shaikh 91, Kasey Aldridge 78, Ptabath Jayasuriya 5-102).
(Cricinfo)
