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MATARA (Sri Lanka), Nov 8: Sri Lanka ‘A’ skipper Hashan Tillekeratne staked his claim for next week’s first Test against the West Indies with an impressive unbeaten 67 here Thursday.
Left-handed Tillekeratne struck 11 fours in his 123-ball knock as the ‘A’ side reached 208-5 against the tourists after electing to bat on the opening day of a three-day game.
The 20-year-old opener Ian Daniel was the other batsman among the runs, scoring a patient 62 off 156 balls with six fours for his third half-century in 14 first-class matches.
SRI LANKA ‘A’ (1st Innings):
R.P. Hewage c Gayle b Stuart 10
G.I. Daniel lbw b Stuart 62
T.K.D. Sudarshana b Ramnarine 15
M.G. Vandort lbw b Hooper 19
H.P. Tillekeratne not out 74
T.M. Dilshan c Jacobs b Hooper 14
A.S.A. Perera not out 18
EXTRAS (LB-2, NB-2) 4
TOTAL (for five wkts, 90 overs) 216
FALL OF WKTS: 1-29, 2-69, 3-103, 4-134, 5-168.
TO BAT: K.A.D.M. Fernando, P.D.R.L. Perera, R.A.P. Nissanka, K.S. Lokuarachchi.
BOWLING (to-date): Dillon 22-5-55-0 (1nb); King 20-4-53-0 (1nb); Stuart 12-4-28-2; Ramnarine 23-8-46-1; Hooper 13-1-32-2.
Lankan squad: Niroshan Bandaratilleke has joined fellow spin bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Thilan Samaraweera in the Sri Lanka squad for next week’s opening Test against the West Indies.
The 26-year-old left-arm spinner has played just four Tests since making his debut against New Zealand four years ago.
He captured nine wickets for 82 runs in his second Test, but has not played at the top level since the Asian Test Championship two years ago.
All three spinners named in the 15-man squad, chosen after the team’s return from Sharjah Tuesday night, are expected to play on what is traditionally a spinner-friendly pitch at the Galle International Stadium.
Three fast bowlers were also been named in the squad alongside fast bowler Chaminda Vaas, Sri Lanka’s leading pace man.
Ruchira Perera, Charitha Buddhika and Nuwan Zoysa will all contend for the chance to partner Vaas in the new-ball attack.
Squad: Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Kumar Sangakkara, Hashan Tillekeratne, Michael Vandort, Thilan Samaraweera, Suresh Perera, Muttiah Muralitharan, Niroshan Bandaratilleke, Ruchira Perera, Chaminda Vaas, Charitha Buddhika, Nuwan Zoysa.—AFP/Reuters
