Sri Lanka drew their warm up match with the West Indies President’s XI at Coolridge Cricket Ground, Antigua yesterday, but an inapt batting performance would certainly not be reassuring as they prepare to front the first of the 2-match test series starting on March 21 .

The Lankans could muster just 172 with opener Oshada Fernando top scoring with 47 and Dinesh Chandimal a next best of 49. Frontline batsman Dhananjaya de Silva made his reappearance following the somewhat long injury sidelining but fell for 17. However he came good with the ball with 3 for 26 in a West Indies President’s XI handsome total of 294 . Sri Lanka were 56 for no loss in the second essay.

CHIEF SCORES:

Sri Lanka XI 172 (Fernando 47, Chandimal 40, Phillip 3-47, Roach 2-41) and 56 for 0 (Karunaratne n.o.  27, Thirimanne n.o. 23) drew with West Indies President’s XI 294 (Hope 68, Mayers 57, Chase 52, de Silva 3-26, Embuldeniya 3-69)