Sri Lanka A make solid start in tour opener

Sri Lanka A began their tour of Kenya with a confident batting display in their first three-day match against a full strength Kenyan side at Mombassa Sports Club today. They finished the day on 274 for five thanks to a well-crafted 90 runs from Chaminda Mendis.

With heavy rains having forced the teams to abort the original schedule, in which all the games were to be played in Nairobi, the tourists were treated to similar conditions to those found back home in Sri Lanka.

The pitch was slow in pace and the sun burned strongly throughout the day. Kumar Dharmasena - the Sri Lankan captain and a man determined to regain his place in the national side - had no hesitation in electing to bat having won the toss.

He was rewarded by some solid batting from his top order. Chaminda Mendis opened the innings with Michael Vandort, who is representing his country for the first time overseas. Mendis quickly settled into the patient anchor role as Vandort took the attack to the Kenyan fast bowlers in the opening overs.

The pair added 51 runs for the first wicket before the left-handed Vandort was trapped LBW for 27 by Thomas Odoyo, Kenya's exciting young all-rounder. Mendis was joined by Ruwan Peiris who went on to score 25 before he was run out.

Having reached the 100 mark in just 26 overs the Kenyans started to claw their way back into the game with some tight bowling after the luncheon interval. However, Chamara Silva and Chaminda Mendis refused to throw their wickets away and the pair added 99 runs for the third wicket.

Just when the Sri Lankans looked they had built a suitable platform for an all out assault, Collins Otieno fought back with a fine spell of leg spin. He cleaned bowled the patient Mendis before trapping Chamara Silva for 46 and Upeka Fernando for 16.

Nevertheless, the day belonged to Sri Lanka and Ranjith Fernando, the Sri Lankan manager, was clearly happy with the performance: "We're quite pleased with the way things went. It was a limb-loosener after four days of travelling. The batsmen acquitted themselves well on a pitch which was rather slow but good for batting."