The match was played over two days with the reserve day being used after rain had curtailed the West Indies ‘A’ innings on the first day to 69-2 in 12.5 overs on Monday.

In much better weather conditions West Indies ‘A’ continuing their innings racked up an impressive total of 267-6 in 50 overs with half-centuries from Kyle Hope (81 off 112 balls, 8 fours), skipper Jason Mohamed (58 off 71 balls, 5 fours) and Rovman Powell (55 off 35 balls, 3 sixes, 3 fours). Sri Lanka ‘A’ got off to a bad start losing opener Sandun Weerakkody to the second over of the innings. They soon slumped to 26-4 with three wickets falling at the same score. They never recovered from that disastrous start and were bundled out for 102 off 32.3 overs.

The damage to the Sri Lankan innings was done by off-spinner Trinidian off-spinner Jon-Rus Jaggesar who finished with impressive figures of 4 for 29. The second match of the series will take place at the Welegedera Stadium in Kurunegala on October 27.

West Indies A who resumed at 183-5 lost their remaining five wickets for 32 runs to give Sri Lanka A useful 75-run lead on the first innings.

By the close of the third day Sri Lanka A had stretched that lead to 286 going into the fourth and final day.

Both teams are level at one-win apiece in the three-match series and the onus is now on Sri Lanka A to push for a series win. West Indies A skipper Shamarh Brooks who was 43 not out overnight completed his half century but apart from a contribution of 25 from Rahkeem Cornwall the rest of the West Indies batting was consumed by Madushanka and Sandakan.

Sri Lanka A once again got off to a good start with Kusal Perera and Sandun Weerakkody posting 67 before West Indies A broke through. Weerakkody followed his first innings knock of 79 with another fine innings of 48 off 36 balls with seven fours.

Off-spinner Cornwall continued to revel against the overloaded Sri Lanka A left-hand batting line up and threatened to run through the innings. But Asela Gunaratne produced an excellent innings of 69 inclusive of 10 fours to ensure Sri Lanka A did not lose the advantage given to them by their bowlers. Cornwall picked up four of the five wickets to fall to take his series tally to 23 wickets.

“A lot of youngsters try to play T20s and one-dayers, but I’m giving advice to them that they should make sure they enjoy Test cricket first, then they can enjoy one-dayers and T20s,” said 39-year-old Dilshan after playing his 330th and final ODI at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium on Sunday against Australia before retiring.

“Everyone has to play more Test cricket. That is the duty of the game. I really enjoyed my Test career as well, rather than the one-dayers. This is a time for our youngsters to put their hands up and take over Sri Lankan cricket. That’s the reason for my retirement. The youngsters are doing really well. Hopefully they can take our national flag a long way,” he said.

Dilshan appeared for his country in 87 Tests scoring 5492 runs at an average of 40.98 with 16 hundreds and captained in 11 of them. It was during his short tenure as captain that Dilshan made his highest Test score – a magnificent 193 against England at Lord’s in 2011 and Sri Lanka recorded their maiden Test win in South Africa by 208 runs at Durban in 2012.

About the timing of his retirement Dilshan said, “I just thought it was time, just as I had thought with my Test career. After this series there is no cricket for me for six months. It’s in January that we play next in South Africa. I thought that it’s better for a new player to train with the team in those six months than me.

“They can get good experience with the team during that time. I thought it was enough so I talked with my wife and my parents. If young players can win in the future that would give me the most joy. You can’t buy that feeling.

“There was no influence.

I had been expecting to play on, but I talked with a lot of people around me and changed my mind. I talked to Thilanga Sumathipala (SLC president) as well, who is someone you can get a lot of good advice from. He’s been like a father, when I faced some problems. I’ve got that support from all these people.”

Reflecting back on his career Dilshan said, “I am happy about what I’ve done for my country in my career. I won’t forget my 17 years serving Sri Lanka. I gave everything in all my matches. If I couldn’t bat, I bowled, and if I couldn’t bowl well, I fielded well.

I can be happy about my journey. Today also I tried my best to win this game, but unfortunately we were short by about 10 or 15 runs. I’m also disappointed that after getting a 40 – and getting starts in the last two games – I couldn’t get a big one. But I’m glad to be giving the youngsters a chance.”

Dilshan said that he hadn’t planned to retire before the series but when he woke up that day he felt that it was time for him to go.

“Whether someone tells me to keep playing or stop playing, that’s not what’s important. What is important is what I feel.

I started the series thinking that I’ll play for another year – at least in T20 cricket. But when I woke up that day I felt that it was time to go,” said Dilshan.

“To be honest I could easily play for another year or two. But we have to look to the future. If I play for another two years and leave, there’s only 18 months before the next World Cup and that’s unfair to the team. A young player could be blooded in that time.

“Since I started opening six years ago, we haven’t found a permanent partner for me. I’ve opened with about 10 people – so that’s a problematic area for us.

If I keep playing we won’t be able to get two batsmen settled in that place. At the same time I’ll also get some rest,” he said.