Karunaratne asserts himself with a century

Sri Lanka Test opener and captain of the Sri Lanka A side for the current series against West Indies A, Dimuth Karunaratne virtually sealed his place in the senior side for the tour to Zimbabwe with an assertive century on the second day of the first unofficial 4-day test at the R Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Karunaratne had a poor home series against Australia averaging just 6.83 in the three Tests where his highest score was 22 and needed a big innings behind him to boost his confidence ahead of the Zimbabwe tour.

Sri Lanka A’s first innings total of 348 for eight wickets at the end of the day was largely built around Karunaratne’s assured knock of 131 off 242 balls comprising 15 fours. It gave them a handy first innings lead of 72 going into the third day today. West Indies A was dismissed for 276 on the first day.

The base for Sri Lanka A’s sound total was laid by Karunaratne and his opening partner Kusal Perera who made a swashbuckling 87 off 105 balls (7 fours, 3 sixes) out of a stand of 167 off 219 balls.

Antigua’s stockily built off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall broke the partnership by getting through the defences of Perera and looked the most penetrative of the West Indies A bowlers ending the day with impressive figures of six for 87.

Wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella was the other Sri Lanka A player to impress hitting an aggressive half century – 59 off 70 balls with 10 fours.

The disappointments for Sri Lanka A were the cheap dismissals of Lahiru Thirimanne for two and Roshen Silva for 17 – both falling victims to Cornwall’s spin.

West Indies A lost the services of fast bowler Reynard Leveridge in the ninth over when he was forced to retire and Cornwall completed the over.