Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, CMC — West Indies A lost their three- match unofficial test series against Sri Lanka A after their third and final four- day match petered out into a draw on the fourth day here Tuesday.
Bad light stopped play as the Sri Lankans were chasing a 218 run target set by West Indies in a match in which the pendulum swung back and forth at the Tyronne Fernando Stadium.
An unbeaten half century from Lahiru Thirimanne pulled the home side out of a slump on the chase after West Indies, slipped, recovered and then suffered another spectacular batting collapse to be all out for 234 in their second innings.
Pacer Shannon Gabriel removed openers Upul Tharanga and Kusal Perera cheaply sending the homeside reeling at 48 for three.
But a 61 run partnership for the 4th wicket between Ashan Priyanjan and Lahiru Thirimanne repaired the damage and revived efforts for outright victory.
Priyanjan was run out for 36 after hitting six fours while Thirimanne, who struck five fours, was undefeated on 57 when bad light stopped play.
Gabriel finished with two for 36 while Devendra Bishoo picked up two for 71.
Earlier, a fourth wicket century stand between Jonathan Carter and Andre Fletcher consolidated the innings after the visitors were in a spot of bother on 97 for three.
Carter added nine runs to his overnight score of 69 before he was stumped; bringing to an end a partnership that produced 120 runs.
Fletcher built on his overnight score of 36, smashing six fours in a knock of 66 before losing his stumps to Chaturanga de Silva who grabbed four for 57.
Fletcher’s demise signaled a familiar batting collapse, undermined once again by the spin off emerging Sri Lankan bowling sensation, Tharindu Kaushal who grabbed five for 78 to finish the match with ten wickets.
The 21-one-year-old Kaushal picked up wickets at the top and middle orders as the last six West Indian wickets tumbled for the addition of only 17 runs.
Sri Lanka A have secured the series one game to nil.
Summarized Scores:
West Indies A 1st Innings: 282/6 (74.5 Overs). Assad Fudadin 103, Kraigg Brathwaite 75, Chadwick Walton+ 27, Carlos Brathwaite* 25; Tharindu Kaushal 32-4-125-5, Nuwan Pradeep 14.5-2-40-4, Kasun Madushanka 10-0-41-1, Chaturanga de Silva 16-1-50-0.
Sri Lanka A 1st Innings: 248/6 (72 Overs). Upul Tharanga* 77, Dinesh Chandimal 44, Kusal Perera 38, Chaturanga de Silva 36; Carlos Brathwaite 11-4-28-3, Davendra Bishoo 27-2-102-3, Jonathan Carter 11-2-24-1, Jermaine Blackwood 10-4-34-1.
West Indies A 2nd Innings: 234 All Out (83.2 Overs). Jonathan Carter 78, Andre Fletcher 66, Assad Fudadin 39, Kraigg Brathwaite 32; Tharindu Kaushal 29.2-4-78-5, , Chaturanga de Silva 25-3-57-4, Ashan Priyanjan 16-2-41-1, Nuwan Pradeep 0.3-0-1-0.
Sri Lanka A 2nd Innings: 166/5 (44.1 Overs). Lahiru Thirimanne 57*, Ashan Priyanjan 36, Kithuruwan Vithanage 20*, Niroshan Dickwella+ 11; Shannon Gabriel 9.1-0-36-2, Davendra Bishoo 14-0-71-2, Jermaine Blackwood 5-1-7-0, Carlos Brathwaite 6-1-16-0.
Match Drawn