Lasith Croospulle led the Sri Lanka Board President’*s XI to a handsome 4-wicket triumph stroking a superb 84- ball 116 chasing a daunting 309-run target on Wednesday in the three day warm up match at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium. The 24-year old right hand opening batsman made it his big day coming to the party in the style of 15 boundaries and 5 over the top in fashioning the run chase as the former Maris Stella College product from Negombo took control of the situation in unleashing his first major knock at international level. Pasindu Sooriyabandara contributed with an unbeaten 36-ball 52 hitting 7 boundaries and 2 sixes while Janith Liyanage lent stroked 42 off 59 with 7 boundaries. The groundwork to the locals calling the shots was set up by the Board XI bowlers who bowled out the visiting England Lions for 250 runs in the second innings in a tremendous come back into contention after the English had dominated the opening day posting a massive 413 for 8. It was significant that this victory was achieved without the locals first innings ton up hero Nishan Madushka coming into the reckoning as he took a back seat watching from the pavilion.

CHIEF SCORES: England Lions 413/8 dcl. & 250 (Jack Haynes 51, Josh Bohannon 50, Ollie Richardson 39, A.Z. Loos 27, Liam Patterson White 26, Lyndon James 17, James Smith 13, Asitha Wijesinghe 2/16, Nimesh Vimukthi 2/46, Sahan Arachchige 2/59, Dushan Hemantha 1/16,, Janith Liyanage 1/48).SL Board President’s XI 355/9 dcl. & 309/6 (50.4 Overs) (Lasith Croospulle 116, Pasindu Sooriyabandara n o. 51, Janith Liyanage 42, Lahiru Udara 25, Sahan Arachchige 22, Dinuth Wellalage 19, Dushan Hemantha n o. 23, Jack Carson 2/72, Josh Tongue 1/46, Liam Patterson White 1/55, Tom Huntley 1/60, Sam Cook 1/61)