Jayasundera fifty adds to his hopes of Test debut
The Sri Lankans' bowlers let the NZC President's XI's eighth-wicket partnership plunder 124 runs, but batted marginally better than in the first innings to secure a draw in the three-day warm up game in Queenstown
ESPNcricinfo staff
05-Dec-2015
Sri Lankans 193 (Karunaratne 93, Johnston 4-43) and 226 for 6 (Jayasundera 63, Vithanage 61, Mathews 54) drew with NZ Board President's XI 399 for 8 dec (Smith 81, Popli 79, Hicks 79, Johnston 27, Chameera 4-57)
Scorecard
Scorecard
The Sri Lankans' bowlers let the NZC President's XI's eighth-wicket partnership plunder 124 runs, but batted marginally better than in the first innings to secure a draw in the three-day warm up game in Queenstown. The hosts took a 206-run lead before declaring and the Sri Lankans then moved to 226 for 6 by stumps.
A 153-ball 63 from opener Udara Jayasundera led the Sri Lankans' innings, and heightened his chances of a debut in the first Test against New Zealand next Thursday. He struck up a 108-run partnership with Kithuruwan Vithanage, who hit 61 off 109 himself. Angelo Mathews made an unbeaten 54, while Dinesh Chandimal collected 29. Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis were dismissed for low scores for the second time in the match.
The President's XI bowlers shared the six wickets between them, Neil Wagner taking 1 for 31. Seamer James Baker picked up the innings' best figures of 2 for 21.
Earlier in the day, the Presidents' XI's resumed on 288 for 7, before hitting 111 runs in the next 15.3 overs. No. 9 batsman Tim Johnston hit 62 from 74 balls while Shawn Hicks finished with 79 not out from 85 deliveries. Sri Lanka lent their opposition a hand with 44 extras, including 21 no-balls. Dushmantha Chameera claimed his fourth wicket of the innings to end that eighth-wicket partnership and invite the declaration.
