Sri Lankan Board XI v West Indies - 3 day First Class match 1991/2 - Match Summary

Sri Lankan Board XI v West Indies - 3 day First Class match 1991/2 - P.Saravanamattu Stadium, Colombo

Pitch: 31

Toss: Sri Lankan Board XI

The home side won a vital toss, and this gave them an advantage they maintained throughout the course of a one sided, but ultimately Drawn match.
Openers Dhammika Ranatunga and Dulip Samaraweera raised healthy opening stands in both innings, with Samaraweera making 45 and an unbeaten 61* in an impressive double.
With Chandana 52* and Dharmasena 45 adding 97 for the 8th wicket in the first innings, the Sri Lankan Board XI always had enough runs to play with, and after declaring both their innings early, nearly challenged for victory.
Ruwan Kalpage took full advantage of the spinning conditions to take 5-28, and West Indies were dismissed in their 1st innings for 200, to concede a 1st innings lead of 76.
A bold 2nd innings declaration by dumped former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga set West Indies 183 to win off roughly 55 overs on a Spinners Paradise.
A 45 minute shower, and then bad light and a gritty Lambert innings ultimately saved the West Indies, as they finished at 142/8 after 40 overs, with 15 overs unbowled.
The home side were overwhelming favourites at that point, and Ranatunga was probably left to rue the decision to give his seamers an extended bowl early in the 2nd inning, which delayed the spinners introduction.
A draw flattered the West Indies, and the success of the home side's spinners will give the Sri Lankans renewed hope for a close and competive Test series to follow.
Man of the Match was Ruwan Kalpage, for his match figures of 7-44 which so nearly gave his side victory.

Match Drawn

Man of the Match: R.S.Kalpage

Sri Lankan Board XI 276/8 declared (98.4 overs)
(D.Ranatunga 39, D.P.Samaraweera 45, S.Ranatunga 29, A.Ranatunga 25, U.D.U.Chandana 52*, H.D.P.K.Dharmasena 45; B.P.Patterson 3-71, R.A.Harper 4-67)

West Indies 200 all out (65.1 overs)
(D.L.Haynes 61, P.V.Simmons 40, R.B.Richardson 42; R.S.Kalpage 5-28, R.P.Arnold 3-29)

Sri Lankan Board XI 106/1 declared (33 overs)
(D.Ranatunga 37, D.P.Samaraweera 61*)

West Indies 142/8 (40 overs)
(P.V.Simmons 43, R.B.Richardson 46, C.B.Lambert 30; U.D.U.Chandana 2-32, R.S.Kalpage 2-16, R.P.Arnold 2-8)

Ruwan Kalpage claimed the Man of the Match award for match figures of 7-44 including 5-28 in the West Indies 1st innings


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