By Srian Obeyesekere
With England’s aborted tour of Sri Lanka that was called off yesterday following the corona virus threat, the tour thus ended with the second warm up match against the Sri Lanka Board XI confined to a draw at the P. Saravanamuththu Stadium yesterday.
After England were all out for 463 rounded off by skipper Joe Root’s 139-ball 102, the Board XI made a bold reply of 150 for 3 wickets with skipper Lahiru Thirimanne hogging the spotlight with a stroke filled unbeaten 88 inclusive of 12 boundaries. In a tour that ended as a damp squib following the sudden decision to halt it as a health precaution in mutual consent of Sri Lanka Cricket and the England and Wales Cricket Board, the second warm up game did reignite the career of the former Sri Lanka vice captain Thirimanne who did not find favour in the first test squad. His crisp innings thus served as a redeeming factor in winning back the faith of the selectors in the future.
CHIEF SCORES:
England 463 All out 117.4 Overs (Z. Crawley 105, J.E. Root 102, O.J. Pope 95, N.G.R.P. Jayasuriya 6/164,M. Shiraz 2/68)
Sri Lanka Board XI 1st Innings 150/3 (40 Overs)(H.D.R.L. Thirimanne n.o. 88, A.K. Perera 38, A.R.S. Silva n.o. 11, C.R. Woakes 2/11)
