First-innings centurion Dimuth Karunaratne scored an unbeaten 39 to guide Sri Lanka A to a seven-wicket win over West Indies A in the first match of West Indies A’s tour of Sri Lanka. After taking the last wicket to bowl out West Indies A for 175, Sri Lanka A knocked off the 66-run target in 20.3 overs.
The day began with West Indies A on an overnight score of 165-9 and a lead of 55. They added only ten more runs before Lakshan Sandakan picked up his fourth wicket, getting No. 11 Reynard Leveridge stumped. Keon Joseph, who had resisted with Gudakesh Moti-Kanhai in a ninth-wicket stand the previous evening, remained unbeaten on 12 off 73 balls.
Lahiru Thirimanne, who had played his last Test in June, was promoted to open with Karunaratne. He scored 21 in a 43-run opening stand, before Rakheem Cornwall trapped in him in front.
Fast-bowler Joseph removed Roshen Silva in the following over and Charith Asalanka shortly after. But Sri Lanka A were never in any danger as Niroshan Dickwella joined Karunaratne to see them through.
Summary: Sri Lanka A 386 (Karunaratne 131, Perera 87, Cornwall 8-108) and 67-3 (Karunaratne 39*, Joseph 2-17) beat West Indies A 276 (Singh 96, Gunaratne 3-27) and 175 (Singh 46, Sandakan 4-51) by 7 wickets (ESPNCricinfo)
Photo caption: Dimuth Karunaratne led the run chase for the home team
