One drop batsman Nishan Madushka clobbered the Kent attack for a record 269, and opener Lasith Croospulle 136 in career best assaults as the Sri Lanka Emerging Squad ran up a mamoth 573 for 6 in reply to the English County side’s 595 for after the third day’s play in their four-day match at Canterbury’s St. Lawrence Grounds yesterday.

In that shoulder to shoulder square up by the young Lankan youth side, the 22-year old Madushka pounded 37 boundaries and 2 sixes in his marathon 392-ball innings while Croospulle was game to the cause in his foray on the international stage thumping 14 boundaries and 2 sixes in his 179-ball stay. The rollicking 294-run second wicket partnership between the duo was fronted after the first wicket fell for just 14.

The duo, continuing from overnight scores of 104 and 86 respectively, Madushka got into hìs element aiming for a magical double century soon after his partner Croospulle had coompleted a dream ton. Following the exit of Croospulle, the run assault continued with Nuwanidu Fernando in an equal to the task 99 (108 balls, 14×4, 2×6) as the third wicket pair added 171 runs off 204 balls. Madushka’s hammer and tong willow display came to an end just one run away from the close of play score of 573. It left the Lankans 22 short of erasing the first innings deficit.

CHIEF SCORES: KENT 595/ 8 Decl. (137 Overs) SL DEVELOPMENT SQUAD 573/6 (131 Overs) (Nishan Madushka 269, Lasith Croospulle 136, Nuwanidu Fernando 99, Dhananjaya Lakshan 24, George Linde 2/106)