Perera, Tharaka fifties revive SL A to 273

Kusal Perera and Nisala Tharaka made half-centuries to help Sri Lanka A recover from 100 for 6 against Pakistan A on the first day of the third and final unofficial Test in Dambulla. The pair put on 124 for the seventh wicket as the hosts were eventually bowled out for 273 in 74 overs.

The Pakistan A new-ball bowlers Tabish Khan and Mir Hamza removed the Sri Lanka A openers cheaply after the visitors decided to bowl. There was a third-wicket partnership of 55 between Madawa Warnapura and Kithuruwan Vithanage (48) but Shehzad Azam and captain Fawad Alam struck twice each to reduce Sri Lanka A to 100 for 6.

Perera countered with 12 fours and two sixes in his 90 off 101 balls, while Tharaka contributed 76 with 11 fours and two sixes. Tabish broke the partnership with the wicket of Perera, but Tharaka hung around to stretch the score of 273. Alam took the last two wickets to end with 4 for 40 while Azam took 3 for 54.

The Pakistan A openers Khurram Manzoor and Shan Masood put on 20 in 14 overs till stumps.

The first two unofficial Tests were drawn.