Anjala Bandara scored his second century of the match to ensure Sri Lanka Emerging Players shared the spoils with West Indies Academy in the opening four-day ‘Test’ yesterday.
Bandara followed up his first innings knock of 163 with an unbeaten 189, while Pulindu Perera scored a crucial 87 as the home side compiled 401 for eight in their second innings before both sides agreed to a draw at the Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium.
Sri Lanka resumed the fourth and final day precariously placed on 173 for five – an overall lead of just 148 – and needing a herculean effort from their lower order to avoid defeat.
They got just that from Bandara and Perera, with the pair continuing from where they left off the previous day after coming together with their side in dire straits at 91 for five.
In all, the pair shared a game-changing partnership of 162 runs, that carried Sri Lanka to relative safety at 253 for five.
And when pacer Jediah Blades finally broke through by dismissing Perera after he had faced 107 balls and struck 10 boundaries, Tharinda Nirmal helped to further frustrate the Academy bowlers by adding 92 runs for the seventh wicket to erase any hopes the visitors would have had of pushing for victory.
By the time he was run out after scoring 40 from 96 balls, Sri Lanka had extended their total to 345 for seven, an overall lead of 320 runs.
The match petered into a predictable draw thereafter, with Bandara carrying his bat throughout the innings. His unbeaten knock spanned just over nine hours and saw him face 326 balls and hit 13 fours.
Johann Layne was the Academy’s best bowler with 3-61, while Blades took 2-43.
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