The magical domestic 1000-run local hero off just 5 innings last year 23-year old Nishan Madushka stroked a breathtakingly unbeaten 150 off 155 balls for the Sri Lanka Board President’s XI in a total of 360 for 8 declared in response to the visiting England Lions first innings 413 as the host team came back strongly reducing the visitors to 164 for 8 in negating a 53-run first innings deficit and poised to go for a win with the Lions pegged down to an overall lead of 217 with only two wickets remaining after the second day’s play of the four-day warm up match at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Madushka, accustomed in grand style to moving up from his usual one drop slot to opening the innings hammering 24 boundaries and a six in infused the magical touch of the fast willow wielding calibre that he displayed in his1000-run feat last year as he brought back the Board XI into contention after the England Lions had got into the box seat of a 400- plus total on the opening day driven by opening batsman Alex Loos’ 97-ball 103 rounded off by four half centuries by Jack Haynes 64, Josh Bohannon 58, Tom Abell 57 and and Jamie Smith 50. Madushka found great support from Lahiru Udara who struck 97 off 85 inclusive of 13 boundaries and 2 sixes.
CHIEF SCORES: England Lions 413/8 dcl. (67 Overs) (Alex Loos 103, Jack Haynes 64, Josh Bohannon. 58, Tom Abell 57, Jamie Smith 50, Kavindu Pathirana 2/40, Janith Liyanage 2/35, Tharindu Ratnayake 2/86, Kavindu Nadeeshan 1/18).
SL Board President’s XI 360/8 dcl. (72 Overs) (Nishan Madushka n.o. 150, Lahiru Udara 93, Sahan Arachchige 25, Lasith Croospulle 19, Nimesh Vimukthi 17, Dunith Wellalage 13,
Liam Patterson 3/80, Josh Tongue 2/22, Jack Carson 2/73)
England Lions 2nd Innings 164/8 (31 Overs)(Ollie Richardson 39, A.Z. Low retd. 27, Nimesh Vimukthi 2/13, Sahan Arachchige 2/50, Kavindu Pathiratne 1/29, Janith Liyanage 1/34)