Hambantota, Sri Lanka, CMC –A batting meltdown overshadowed off-spinner Shane Shillingford’s five-wicket haul and cost West Indies A dearly, as they were left them facing an uphill battle to save the first unofficial “Test” against Sri Lanka A here Sunday.
At the close of the second day, the Caribbean side was struggling at 96 for seven, in response to the hosts’ 413 all out at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.
They were put undone by leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna who sliced through the innings to finish with five for 24.
West Indies A trail by 307 runs with three wickets intact, and two days remaining in the contest.
Shillingford had early hauled West Indies A back into the contest, taking five for 160 to wreck Sri Lanka A’s middle and lower order.
Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel (2-43) and left-arm spinner Nikita Miller (2-87) finished with two wickets apiece.
Summary Scores:
Sri Lanka A 1st Innings: 413 All Out (140.5 Overs). Dimuth Karunaratne 139, Lahiru Thirimanne 93, Dinesh Chandimal+ 87, Jehan Mubarak 25; Shane Shillingford 44.5-6-160-5, Nikita Miller 35-9-87-2, Shannon Gabriel 15-5-43-2, Carlos Brathwaite 23-3-53-1.
West Indies A 1st Innings: 96/7 (39 Overs). Assad Fudadin 32, Kraigg Brathwaite 24, Kirk Edwards 13, Chadwick Walton+ 10*; Seekkuge Prasanna 15-7-24-5, Ashan Priyanjan 2-1-1-1, Vishwa Fernando 7-3-17-1, Lahiru Gamage 5-0-14-0.