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MATARA (Sri Lanka), Nov 9: West Indian opener Chris Gayle warmed up for next week’s first Test against Sri Lanka with a rapidfire 96 not out on the penultimate day of a three-day match here Friday.
The 22-year-old left-hander struck 16 fours in his 94-ball knock against Sri Lanka ‘A’ as the tourists reached 134 for no loss in reply to their rivals’ 269 on a rain-curtailed day.
The visitors batted for just 29 overs before rain washed out the last session, with Gayle poised to complete his first century on the tour.
Earlier, West Indian leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine claimed 4-54 off 29.1 overs, taking three of the five wickets the hosts lost this morning.
Skipper Hashan Tillekeratne top-scored for the home team with 86 before being trapped leg-before by fast bowler Reon King.
SRI LANKA ‘A’ (1st Innings, overnight 216-5):
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 lbw b King 86
T.M. Dilshan c Jacobs b Hooper 14
A.S.A. Perera b Ramnarine 27
K.S. Lokuarachchi b Dillon 8
K.A.D.M. Fernando lbw b Ramnarine 7
R.A.P. Nissanka not out 10
P.D.R.L. Perera b Ramnarine 0
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-7, NB-3) 11
TOTAL (all out, 109.1 overs) 269
FALL OF WKTS: 1-29, 2-69, 3-103, 4-134, 5-168, 6-234, 7-252, 8-259, 9-261.
BOWLING: Dillon 30-5-76-1 (2nb); King 25-6-71-1 (1nb); Stuart 12-4-28-2; Ramnarine 29.1-13-54-4; Hooper 13-1-32-2.
WEST INDIES (1st Innings):
D. Ganga not out 27
C.H. Gayle not out 96
EXTRAS (W-2, NB-9) 11
TOTAL (for no wkt, 29 overs) 134
TO BAT: R.R. Sarwan, B.C. Lara, C.L. Hooper, M.N. Samuels, R.D. Jacobs, M. Dillon, D. Ramnarine, R.D. King, C.E.L. Stuart.
BOWLING (to-date): P.D.R.L. Perera 9-0-40-0 (6nb); Fernando 6-1-31-0 (2nb); Nissanka 3-0-36-0 (1nb); Lokuarachchi 7-1-16-0; A.S.A. Perera 4-0-11-0 (1w).—AFP/Reuters
