Sri Lanka A came back strongly to drub the England Lions by 86 runs on a superb 5 for 43 haul by Dushan Hemantha as the visitors crashed for 239 in 39.1 overs in the second ODI after the hosts had amassed 315 for 6 wickets on half centuries by opening batsman Lasith Croospulle 73, Nuwanidu Fernando 57 and Angelo Matthews 50 to level the 3-match series 1-all at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. If Croospulle, the 24-year old former Maris Stella College product was the centre piece to the Lankan run gallop manning the batting upfront in holding the innings together with a composed 67-ball innings tucked with 12 boundaries, it was the 28-year old Hemantha, the former St. Peter’s College leg spinner who bamboozled the English with the ball with 20-year old former St.Joseph’s College Sri Lanka U 19 and Sri Lanka discovery lending great support claiming 2 for 61 in the wake of his unbeaten 15 in the late order.
Sri Lanka A, taking first lease on winning the toss, owed as much to Nuwanidu Fernando, the dashing 23-year old former St.Sebastian College product from Moratuwa, who played an equally supportive 57-run role off 70 hitting 5 boundaries and a six. The final flourish to the 300-plus run orgy came from veteran batsman Angelo Matthews back in rhythm with a run a ball 50 filled with 4 boundaries.
The England Lions perished from what was a healthy 164’for 3 after 27.3 overs on a run a ball 67 by Tom Prest inclusive of 6 boundaries and a six when Hemantha bowled him when looking well set. It was to trigger the collapse as England Lions slumped to 176 for 6 after 31.3.
CHIEF SCORES: Sri Lanka A 315/6 (Lasith Croospulle 73, Nuwanidu Fernando 57, Angelo Matthews 50, Sadeera Samarawickrama 40, Suminda Lakshan n.o. 35, Dunith Wellalage n.o. 15, Mason Crane 3/55, Jacob Bethell 2/55, Sam Cook 1/51) vs England Lions 229 (39.1 Overs) (Tom Prest 67, James Rew 42, Jack Haynes 36. Jacob Bethell 19. Brydon Carse 17, Dushan Hemantha 5/43, Dunith Wellalage 2/61, Pramod Madushan 1/21, Sahan Arachchige 1/39, Suminda Lakshan 1/45)
