http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 v Worcestershire tour match: the visitors on to a winning start – Match Recap
The Sri Lankans have shown that they mean business, as they triumphed over Worcestershire by 57 runs, in a warm-up tour match, ahead of their One Day International Series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013.
The tour match between two sides was played at County Ground, New Road, Worcester on Wednesday, June 22, 2011.
It was the visitors who won the toss and their stand-in skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sahan-Hewa-Thilina-Kandamby-c87923, decided to bat first. It was a different side than the one which played in the Test series.
The Lankans posted a mammoth total of 351 on board for the loss of five wickets, while Worcestershire was dislodged for 294.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AD-Mathews-c913 also included
in the side after he recovered from his injury.
The Lankans opened their innings with the experienced pair of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Denagamage-Proboth-Mahela-de-Silva-Jayawardene-c53546 and Jayasuria.
The 41-year-old Jayasuria was merciless from the start. He was at his very best and looked to score runs the only way he knows, clearing the rope.
Jayawardene was the calmer partner in their stand. The right-hander was keen on taking singles so as to return the strike back to the left-hander.
The opening pair of Jayawardene and Jayasuria laid out a solid foundation for the rest of players, they piled up 56 runs from 7.2 overs.
Jayawardene was the first man to be dismissed. Worcestershire’s overseas player, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Cox-c51633 took the catch.
Sri Lanka’s first choice wicket-keeper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/LD-Chandimal-c1831 however, could got out on the very first ball that he faced. Ajmal was once again the claimant.
Stand-in captain Kandamby then came in to support Jayasuria, who refused to change his attacking approach, despite the fall of two quick wickets. The veteran batsman reached his fifty off just 45 balls before eventually getting out in 19th over,
after scoring 78 runs as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shaaiq-H-Choudhry-c89241 claimed his wicket.
The highlight of Lankan innings was the 163-run stand for the 5th wicket, between Mathews and Jeevan Mendis. Mendis remained unbeaten on 99 while his partner Mathews got out in the 48th over for 81.
Worcestershire began their innings with an early loss when the leader of the Lankan pace attack, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jack-Kenneth-Manuel-c65135 in the third over.
However, the English County side bounced back with a 109-run stand for the second wicket between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Moeen-Ali-c1990.
After Kervezee was caught by Jayasuriya off Mendis in the 14th over, Neil Pinner followed him to the pavilion in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Short-c90107 succession, getting run out in the 17th over, after only scoring 3 runs.
Moeen Ali and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/James-Cameron-c65525 had the burden on their shoulders then onwards, however, Moeen, who was batting superbly at 136, had to go back in the 31st over as the Lankan wicketkeeper, Chandimal held on to one off Moeen’s bat.
Once Ali got out, the incoming batsmen failed to show any resistance to Lankan bowlers as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Worcestershire-c866 was all bowled out within 44 overs, reaching a total of 294, 57 runs short of the par score.
Sri Lanka will now face England in a Twenty20 international, which is scheduled to be played on Saturday, June 25, 2011, at County Ground, Bristol.
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