Sri Lanka 'A' force a draw against West Indies

CRICKET: Stubborn resistance by the lower order enabled Sri Lanka 'A' to force a draw against West Indies 'A' on the final day of the opening four-day "Test" at Guaracara Park Monday.

Set a challenging victory target of 279 in 75 overs after the Windies declared at 263 for four, the visitors ended on 235 for eight when bad light stopped play with five of the mandatory overs remaining.

After being in dire straits on 60 for five, the Sri Lankans were indebted to a fighting sixth-wicket partnership of 94 by Gayan Wijekoon (58) and Kaushal Silva (37), and a 44-run eighth wicket stand by Kaushal Loukarachchi (37 not out) and Nuwan Kalesekara (26), that saw them to safety.

Fast bowler Richard Kelly was the pick of the bowlers with three for 28, while Ravi Rampaul (2-37) and Ryan Hinds (2-55) had two wickets apiece.

Earlier, the West Indies 'A' resumed at its overnight 178 for three, an overall lead of 193, with opener Devon Smith on 104 and left-handed Ryan Hinds yet to face a ball.

The pair carried the score to 212 before Smith fell to a catch at the wicket by Kaushal Silva off pacer Nuwan Kalesekera for 117.

The stylish left-handed Grenadian batted for 263 minutes, faced 188 balls and struck nine fours.

Guyanese left-hander Narsingh Deonarine joined Hinds and the duo plundered the bowling to all parts of the ground in search of quick runs.

They featured in an unbroken fifth wicket partnership of 51 in 35 minutes before the declaration came.

Both batsmen finished on 34, with Hinds' innings being compiled in 81 minutes from 54 balls with three fours, while Deonarine spent 35 minutes at the crease and struck four fours and one six from 30 balls.

Left with 40 minutes batting before lunch after the hosts' declaration, the tourists crashed to 21 for three at the break, losing their first three wickets with only nine runs on the board.

Hard-hitting opener Avishka Gunawardene (1) was caught by substitute Travis Dowlin at square-leg off the fired up Ravi Rampaul with the total on eight.

One run later, Mahela Udawatte (5) was snapped up by wicketkeeper Patrick Browne off Jamaican pacer Andrew Richardson, and with the score unchanged Rampaul induced an edge from Jeevan Mendis (0) to send the Sri Lankans reeling.

On resumption from lunch, the Sri Lankans slipped into further trouble when Thilan Samaraweera (13) was brilliantly caught at square-leg by Dowlin off medium-pacer Kelly with the total on 41.

More trouble brewed when Kelly had Jehan Mubarak (26) trapped in front, with the scoreboard reading 60 for five.

Wijekoon and Silva then thwarted the efforts of the regional bowling taking the score to 123 for five at tea.

After the break, the pair continued to deny the Windies bowlers until the partnership was broken at 154 when Silva was caught at the wicket by Browne off Ryan Hinds for 37.

The dapper right-hander batted for 95 minutes, faced 79 balls and struck three fours.

Eight runs later, Wijekoon was leg before to Hinds for a well played 58, after batting for 125 minutes, facing 101 balls and striking two fours and one six. The second and final Test is scheduled to start in St. Kitts on Friday.

West Indies 'A' 1st innings all out 267
Sri Lanka 'A' 1st innings 252

WEST INDIES 'A' 2nd innings

D. Smith c Silva b Kulasekara    117    
S. Chattergoon c Silva b Perera   06   
W. Hinds b Weerakoon     29   
S. Joseph c Samaraweera b Weerakoon   29   
RO Hinds not out     34
N Deonarine not out     35

EXTRAS (b 3, lb 6, nb 4)    13
TOTAL (4 wickets dec; 69 overs)   263

Did not bat PA Browne, DJG Sammy, R Kelly, R Rampaul, AP Richardson
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-91, 3-178, 4-212
Bowling: N Kulasekara 17-3-63-1 (3nb), R Perera 6-1-19-1 (1nb),
S Weerakoon 16-2-68-2, J Mubarak 5-1-23-0, G Wijekoon 9-2-32-0,
K Lokuarachchi 13-5-37-0, J Mendis 3-0-12-0. 

SRI LANKA A 2nd innings

A Gunawardene c sub (TM Dowlin) b Rampaul  01
M Udawatte c Browne b Richardson   05
J Mendis c Joseph b Rampaul    00
T Samaraweera c sub (TM Dowlin) b Kelly  13
J Mubarak lbw b Kelly     26
G Wijekoon lbw b RO Hinds    58
K Silva c Browne b RO Hinds    37
K Lokuarachchi not out     37
N Kulasekara c Smith b Kelly    26
S Weerakoon not out     09

EXTRAS (lb 5, w 2, nb 16)    23
TOTAL (8 wickets; 70 overs)    235

Did not bat PDRL Perera
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-9, 3-9, 4-41, 5-60, 6-154, 7-162, 8-206
Bowling: AP Richardson 13-2-32-1(6nb, 1w), R Rampaul 10-3-37-2(4nb),
R Kelly 10-2-28-3(1w), RO Hinds 20-2-55-2, DJG Sammy 4-0-17-0(1nb),
N Deonarine 9-0-34-0, WW Hinds 4-2-7-0.