By Srian Obeyesekere

Sri Lanka A having gone down 2-1 to Australia A in the 3-match ODI series down under, did well to draw the first unofficial test match against their Australian counterparts in a high scoring affair with a significant feature being the two unbeaten centuries by Sonal Dinusha 105 in the first innings and Nuwanidu Fernando 104 in the second at the Marrara Oval in Darwin played from July 13 to 19.

Dinusha, who made his test debut recently against Bangladesh, came good with a fluent ton off 148 balls inclusive of 10 boundaries and a six as the Lankans totalled 273 batting first at the Marrara Oval in Darwin.
Australia responded running up 486 with Liam Scott and Nathan McSweeney top scoring with 94 each respectively.
The game turned out to be a big fling for young Dinusha who went on to showcase his all-round prowess claiming 4 wickets for 97 runs.

Pramod Madushan was also among the wicketsf taking 3 for 82 with Nishan Peiris coming for some stick conceding 137 runs for his two wickets.

Sri Lanka fared better in their second innings finishing on a high of 280 for 3 with Nuwanidu Fernando in top fettle scoring an unbeaten 104 off 218 balls sword edged by 3 sixes and 7 boundaries. Skipper Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Pavan Rathnayake also came good scoring 56 apiece. The skipper’s innings came off 98 balls containing 4 boundaries and a six while Ratnayake struck 6 boundaries in his 96-ball knock.

The second unofficial test between the two sides will commence tomorrow at the same venue.

Chief Scores
Sri Lanka A 272 82 Overs
Sonal Dinusha n.o. 105, Nuwanidu Fernando 34, Isitha Wijesundara 33, Vishad Randikav 27, Liam Scott 2/27, Henry Thornton 2/31, Nathan McSweeney 2/51.
And 280/3 81Overs
Nuwanidu Fernando n.o. 104, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 56, Pavan Rathnayake n.o. 56, Kamil Mishara 35, Lahiru Udara 17.

Australia A 486 161.4 Overs
Liam Scott 94, Nathan McSweeney 94, Mitchell Perry 61, Jake Weatherald 54, Louis Smith 15, Sonal Dinusha 4/97, Pramod Madushan 3/82, Nishan Peiris 2/137.