The West Indies beat the Sri Lanka Board President’s XI by 6 wickets with 21 balls remaining at the FTZ Katunayake on Thursday. The touring team made light of the 277-run target set by Sri Lanka finishing things off in ham fist style of  a run flurry just for the loss of 4 wickets off 46.3 overs spearheaded by Roston Chase’s rollicking knock of 136 off only 113 balls decked with 16 boundaries and a six. He was well supported by opening batsman S.D. Hope who put West Indian hopes of victory on course with a 102-ball 85 inclusive of 11 boundaries.

Batting first, the Board President’s XI skippered by Lahiru Thirimanne totaled 276 for 8 wickets off 50 overs with Minod Bhanuka top scoring with an 88-ball 69 spiced with 4 boundaries and a six after opening batsman Pathum Nissanka had set the run pace with a 43-ball 41 hitting 5 boundaries after skipper Thirimanne had been prised out for 4. Ramesh Mendis, who struck a treble century for Moors in the domestic tournament, was equal to the task scoring an unbeaten 64 off just 63 balls studded with 5 boundaries and 2 sixes.

CHIEF SCORES:

Sri Lanka Board President’s XI 276/8 (50 Overs)

Run rate: 5.2

(M. Bhanuka 69, R.T.M. Mendis 64, D.A.S. Gunaratne 47, P. Nissanka 41, R. Shepherd 2/45, R.L. Chase 2/57)

West Indies 277/4 (46.3 Overs) Run rate: 5.95

(R.L. Chase 136, S.D. Hope 85, S.W. Ambris 34, M.V.T. Fernando 2/56)

By Srian Obeyesekere