By Srian Obeyesekere
Opener Avishka Fernando came back to the show from injury lay off to losing his Sri Lanka ODI place smashing 133 off 124 balls as Sri Lanka ‘A’ defeated Bangladesh A by 48 runs in a high scoring game of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup Tournament cricket at SSC grounds yesterday.
Fernando dominated the day all the way by his masterful knock as Sri Lanka A piled up 349 for 8 wickets in 50 overs to which Bangladesh ‘A’ responded with a gamely 301 in 48.3 overs, but outshone by the hosts superior total.
Bangladesh’s main run getters were opener Tanzid Hasen 51, skipper Mohammed Saif Hasen 53, Saumya Sakar 43 and Rakibul Hasen 40.
Pacer Promod Madushan was on target for Sri Lanka A claiming 3 for 50 in 6.3 overs and leg spinner Dushan Hemantha 3 for 54 while off spinner Sahan Arachchige 2 chipped in with 2 for 62.
Avishka Fernando crossed the boundary on 13 occasions and 3 over the top during his cornerstone 125-run second wicket partnership with the hard hitting Minod Bhanuka 57 off 55 who struck 3 sixes and 4 boundaries in that Lankan box seat offensive following the 51-run opening partnership with Lasith Croospulle 31 off 28 inclusive of 6 boundaries and a six. Pasindu Sooriyabandara was equal to the task scoring 43. Skipper Dunith Wellalage lent the culminating charge scoring 31 off 19 piercing the boundary thrice and a six and Ashen Bandara 35 off 25 with 4 boundaries in a sixth-wicket alliance of 62.
Ripon Mondol and Saumya Sarkar took three wickets each respectively for Bangladesh ‘A’.
Meanwhile Afghanistan ‘A’ defeated Oman ‘A by 72 runs in the other fixture at the CCC Grounds.
CHIEF SCORES:
At SSC Grounds Sri Lanka ‘A’ 349/8 (50 Overs)
(Avishka Fernando 133, Minod Bhanuka 57, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 43, Ashen Bandara 45, Lasith Croospulle 31, Dunith Wellalage 31, Ripon Mondoi 3/71, Saumya Sarker 3/52)
Bangladesh ‘A’ 301 (48.3 0vers)
(Thansid Hazen 51, Zakir Hasen 26, Mohameed Saif Hasen 53, Mamudul Hasen Joy 11, Saumya Saker 42, Mehadi Hasan 31, Rakibul Hasen 40, Mohameed Naim Sheikh 22, Ripon Mondol n.o. 16, Promod Madushan 3/50, Sahan Arachchige 2/62, Dushan Hemantha 3/54).
At CCC Grounds Afghanistan ‘A’ 267/8 (49 Overs)
(Zubaid Akbari 79, Riaz Hasen 27, Noor Ali Zadran 35, Sahidullah 45, Riaz Hasen 27, Ikram Alikil n.o. 34, Sharafuddin Ashruf 24, Bahir Shah 11, Kaleemullah 2/41, Akib Illyaz 2/50)
Oman ‘A’ 195 (40.3 Overs)
(Ayan Khan 47, Shoaib Khan 47, Aqib Illyas 39, Fayyaz Butt n.o. 19, Shubo Pal 10, Mohammed Ibrahim 3/22, Zia- Ur – Rehman 3/37, Izharulhaq Naved 2/42).