Warnapura and Samaraweera flay Bangladesh A

Sri Lanka A 335 for 2 (Warnapura 177*, Samaraweera 129*) v Bangladesh A
Scorecard

Sri Lanka A secured a tremendous advantage by putting up 335 for 2 against Bangladesh A on the opening day of their first four-day match at the Colts Cricket Club in Colombo. Malinda Warnapura and Thilan Samaraweera struck unbeaten hundreds in a partnership of 313 for the third wicket.

After choosing to bat, Sri Lanka A got off to a disastrous start, losing both their openers for 22. Fast bowler Nazmul Hossain removed Mahela Udawatte in the third over for 5 and then had Michael Vandort caught for 10 in the seventh.

However, if Bangladesh thought they would seize the day, they had another think coming. Once Warnapura, the nephew of Sri Lanka's first Test captain Bandula Warnapurna, and captain Samaraweera got together it was all one-way traffic. Warnapura struck 177 off 291 balls with 11 fours and a six. Samaraweera last played a Test for Sri Lanka against England in 2006 and today he accumulated 129 off 232 balls.

Bangladesh used seven bowlers but only Hossain met with any success. Khaled Mashud, one of Bangladesh's most experienced Test cricketers, was playing for Bangladesh A after being dropped from the World Cup squad.