Second-string attack too inconsistent in drawn game

Sri Lanka's second-string attack achieved a three-run lead on the first innings over the West Indies Cricket Board President's XI today, but a more consistent line and length might have produced greater reward in the drawn match.

The lack of discipline at Arnos Vale was reflected in the concession of 25 no-balls and three wides in a total of 32 extras.

Before the game was called off with 8.4 overs left, Sri Lanka's former captain Sanath Jayasuriya took the opportunity to collect some useful runs ahead of Friday's first Test. He smashed seven fours and one six in an undefeated 44 off 46 balls, as the Sri Lankans finished on 66 for 1 in their second innings.

Tillakaratne Dilshan was the batsman out, to the last ball of the match. Dilshan, who was promoted to open to give him some match practice, made 20 off 46 balls with three fours before edging Dwayne Bravo to Carlton Baugh, the wicketkeeper. Earlier, the Sri Lankans picked up their wickets with a mixture of speed and spin, and only the captain Daren Ganga (54), Ryan Hinds (83) and Baugh (43) made runs in the top order.

Ganga anchored the innings after the Sri Lankans had reduced the President's XI to 56 for 3 by the 17th over. Ganga helped his team recover from that bad start by sharing a 70-run stand for the fourth wicket with Hinds.

Hinds, the 22-year-old Barbadian left-hander who captained the West Indies team in the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2000, gave the selectors a reminder. He was dropped from the national squad after his Test-debut season last year, but his 83 in 197 minutes here was a fine knock.

His innings ended when he unnecessarily chased a wide one and edged a catch to Mahela Jayawardene at slip, giving the persistent Dinusha Fernando his first wicket of the innings. Hinds faced 166 balls and hit seven fours.

Fernando also claimed Baugh, who hit an exciting 43 off 55 balls with one six and five fours before gloving a rising delivery to Dilshan behind the wicket. Baugh and Hinds shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 94 to lift the President's XI from 130 for 5 to 224 for 6. Once that stand was broken the last four wickets tumbled for 34 runs. Dave Mohammed provided some entertainment in scoring 33 from 39 balls with two sixes, and added 38 for the last wicket with Jerome Taylor.

Thilan Thushara, the left-arm fast bowler, struggled with his run-up and was no-balled eight times in his first seven-over spell. He ended up bowling 11 no-balls and three wides for figures of 2 for 43 off 11 overs.

Thilan Samaraweera was the most successful bowler, taking 3 for 56 off 19 overs including two in one over - Tino Best and Daren Powell were both dismissed behind the wicket, with Dilshan claiming a stumping and a catch.