The Sri Lanka Emerging Team drew the four-day unofficial Test match with the Bangladesh Emerging Team at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, Khulna on Friday. Full credit to Ashen Bandara who was Sri Lanka’s hero with a battling 85 in a marathon knock that extended from the second day to the final day. Bandara virtually played a one man show last post role in holding the strong Bangladeshis at bay.
Resuming from his overnight score of 57, Bandara continued the fight as he turned warrior with the bat going on to score a magnificent match saving 85. His 256-ball knock consuming 373 minutes was packed with 8 solid boundaries as Bandara rallied his side from an overnight 190 for 6 to 244 all out in reply to the host team’s 360. He was last out in a gutsy effort of tremendous patience and application exemplifying virtues that magnificence is made of this.
In a typical last ditch standoff Bandara went on to further frustrate the Bangladeshis adding an useful 28 runs for the ninth wicket with Nishan Peiris. Peiris stood firm with a 28-ball 15 hitting 3 boundaries. Off spinner Nayeem Hasan claimed 7 for 93.
The Bangladesh Emerging Team was on 102 for 4 wickets in the second innings as the Sri Lankans went on the offensive with Nishan Peiris picking up 3 for 43 off 15 tidy overs with his off spin. Saif Hassan was unbeaten on 40 off 113 balls containing 4 boundaries and a six and Zakir Khan on 25 off 37 having hit 5 boundaries.
CHIEF SCORES:
Bangladesh Emerging Team 1st Innings 360 (135.4 Overs) Run Rate: 2.65 and 102/4 (43 Overs) Run Rate: 2.37 (S. Hassan n.o. 40, N. H. Shanto 25, Z. Khan n.o. 25, K.N. Peiris 3/43)
Sri Lanka Emerging Team 1st Innings 244 All Out (103.4 Overs) Run Rate: 2.35 (K.N.A. Bandara 85, K.N. Peiris 15, N. Hasan 7/93, S. Islam 2/59)
By Srian Obeyesekere
-The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Sri Lanka Cricket-