Shehan Jayasuriya, Pushpakumara bowl Lanka ‘A’ to series win

Spinners Shehan Jayasuriya and Malinda Pushpakumara took 16 wickets between them to bowl Sri Lanka ‘A’ to a series clinching ten-wicket win over West Indies on the third day of the third and final 4-day unofficial test played at Sabina Park, Kingston here on Saturday.

Jayasuriya took six wickets for 60 with his off-breaks and eight in the match to claim the Man of the Match award.

Following a washout on the first day due to rain West Indies ‘A’ winning the toss and deciding to bat first in the match played under lights were dismissed for 181 with Sunil Ambris being the only batsman to counter the spin of Jayasuriya and Pushpakumara compiling a fine century 101 off 156 balls with eight fours and two sixes.

Sri Lanka ‘A’ replied with 273 following half-centuries from skipper Dananjaya de Silva (64 off 97 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) and Roshen Silva who retired hurt at 52 scored off 134 balls (3 fours, 1 six).

Trailing by 92 runs on the first innings West Indies ‘A’ collapsed for 118 in their second innings with Jayasuriya (6/60) and Pushpakumara (4/19) causing the damage once again to the home team’s batting.

Skipper Shamarh Brooks top scored for his side with a patient half century off 90 balls,

Left with the formality of scoring 27 runs for victory Nipun Karunanayake (17) and Ron Chandraguptha (3) knocked the runs off in six overs for Sri Lanka ‘A’ to win the series 2-1.

Jayasuriya pipped Pushpakumara (who also had a match bag of eight wickets) to the Man of the Match award with his valuable contribution of 36 off 42 balls with the bat.

West Indies ‘A’ 181 in 60.3 overs (S Ambris 101, R Cornwall 19, Lahiru Kumara 2/35, Shehan Jayasuriya 2/41, Malinda Pushpakumara 4/67) and 118 in 37.3 overs (Shamarh Brooks 52, Shehan Jayasuriya 6/60, Malinda Pushpakumara 4/19)

Sri Lanka ‘A’ 273 in 76.2 overs (Nipun Karunanayake 26, Dananjaya de Silva 64, Roshen Silva 53 rtd ht, Sandun Weerakkody 21, Shehan Jayasuriya 36, K Joseph 2/43, O Thomas 2/54, R Leveridge 2/25, D Jacobs 2/58) and 27-0 in 5.5 overs.