Pathirana stars in opening Sri Lanka A win

Sri Lanka A 240 for 5 (Gunathilaka 57, Rajapaksa 52 Pathirana 52*, Bulcock 3-26) beat Unicorns 237 (Burton 44, Rambukwella 3-18) by five wickets Scorecard

Sri Lanka A have opened their campaign in England with a five-wicket win over the Unicorns in a 50-over warm-up, as slow-bowling allrounder Sachith Pathirana made significant contributions in both disciplines.

Unicorns batted first at Gosford but despite a steady opening stand of 61, were hamstrung by the breakthroughs Sri Lanka A's spinners regularly effected.

Pathirana's left-arm spin and Ramith Rambukwella's offspin accounted for five scalps in total, including the top four, as Unicorns were reduced to 138 for 5 by the 34th over.

The seam bowlers took wickets through the middle overs, with legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna also taking one scalp. Unicorns were all out for 237 in the 48th over. Rambukwella finished with the innings' best figures of 3 for 34, and Tom Burton top scored with 44.

Sri Lanka A began their chase with a 95-run opening stand, driven primarily by Danushka Gunathilaka's 57 off 67 balls. Left-arm spinner Toby Bulcock turned that wicket into a mini-collapse - taking three of the four wickets that fell for 15 runs, but Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Pathirana were on hand to right Sri Lanka A's course.

Rajapaksa made 52 off 62, and though he fell with over 50 runs still to get, Pathirana's 52 not out saw Sri Lanka A over the line in the penultimate over.

Unicorns are a one-day outfit comprised of uncontracted players. They were part of England's one-day domestic competition until this year.