Sri Lanka A completed a three-nil clean sweep in their unofficial Test
series against Kenya on Sunday when they defeated the visitors by 199 runs
at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
The third game was the most keenly contested of the series, with Kenya
showing greater discipline and determination than they had hitherto displayed,
but the hosts always looked likely winners having posted a formidable 404
run target.
Kenya's openers, Ravindu Shah (48) and Kennedy Otieno (45), begun resolutely
on Saturday and this morning they extended their opening partnership to 88
before they were parted.
But once separated only Steve Tikolo provided substantive resistance, the
31-year-old scoring a solid and unusually restrained 58 from 131 balls.
Tikolo finished the series with one century and two fifties to become Kenya'
s highest run scorer of the series with an aggregate of 314 runs.
Shah, the only other visiting batsman to impress on the tour, displaying an
unflappable temperament and an organised technique, finished with a 307 run
aggregate.
Collins Obuya was the pick of the Kenyan bowlers, finishing with 11 wickets.
Upul Chandana was Sri Lanka A's outstanding player, the highest run scorer
(287) and wicket taker (18).
Tillakaratne Dilshan also impressed, probably doing enough to book a berth
on Sri Lanka's tour of England, where his soundness against fast bowling
gives him an edge over his rivals.
Of the bowlers, Ruchira Perera was typically full of energy and effort,
despite unfavourable conditions for the faster bowlers.
Muthumudalige Pushpakumara had a relatively poor series with the willow, but
made an impression with his off-breaks, taking 12 wickets.
Rangana Herath waited the final innings before he made his mark, picking
five for 52 with his accurate left-arm spin.
Indeed, it was Herath that eventually broke Kenya's gritty first wicket
partnership, as Shah feathered a catch into the safe gloves of Prassana
Jayawardene behind the stumps.
He then picked up Otieno at short leg off bat and pad. Next over, Maurice
Odumbe also perished from a bat-pad catch, this time off Chandana.
Kenya, 88 for no loss at one stage, were now in trouble on 104 for three.
Hitesh Modi and Tikolo tried to consolidate, adding 32 for the fourth
wicket, but when Modi - who hit four boundaries in his 22 - was bowled
around his legs whilst trying to sweep, Kenya started an inevitable slide to
defeat.
David Obuya registered a 24 minute duck before edging to slip and Palusthi
Gunaratne, a 28-year with a strong slingy action, took two wickets in two
balls: Collins Obuya trapped lbw and Martin Suji clean bowled.
Gunaratne also trapped Joseph Angara lbw and Herath picked up Brijesh Patel
before Tikolo was last man out, caught and bowled off a leading edge.