Sri Lanka Warm-Up Win by 142 Runs Over Patrons XI
Sri Lanka beat the PCB Patrons XI by 142 runs in their three-day warm-up match at the Islamabad Cricket Club Oval on Friday. The Sri Lanka warm-up win gives the tourists a strong finish to their preparations before the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Monday.
Sri Lanka resumed their second innings at 121 for six and were bowled out for 181 in 54.3 overs. That set the home side a target of 253 runs. The Patrons XI were then bowled out for 111 in 27.1 overs.
How Sri Lanka built their lead
Milan Rathnayaka and Keshara Nuwantha resumed the innings for the visitors. Rathnayaka scored 40 off 77 balls, with five fours, while Nuwantha made 30 off 47 balls, also with five fours. Saqib Khan and Ubaid Shah dismissed the two batters.
Anjala Bandara made 34 off 56 balls. He added 56 runs for the sixth wicket with Rathnayaka before he was caught behind off Shoaib Akhtar Jr.
Sonal Dinusha made 22 before an unusual hit-wicket dismissal off Ubaid Shah. Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Lahiru Udara had put on 30 for the first wicket, but the innings then fell away. Sooriyabandara made 14, Udara 15 and captain Kusal Mendis only three, as Sri Lanka slipped to 39 for four.
The Patrons XI collapse
Chasing 253, the home side never settled. Tayyab Arif top-scored with 32 off 31 balls, striking four fours. Opener Abdullah Fazal made 21 off 29 balls, with four boundaries. Sameer Minhas added 18 off 23 balls, including two fours and a six, and Mohammad Taha made 16 off 25 balls.
The rest of the batting failed against Sri Lanka’s attack. Nuwantha led the bowling with four wickets for 26 runs in seven overs. Eshan Malinga took three wickets, while Lahiru Kumara and Dilshan Madushanka took one each.
The first two days
Sri Lanka had declared their first innings at 223 for seven. The Patrons XI resumed day two at 43 for two and declared at 151 for eight after 47 overs. Opener Azan Awais made a gritty 50 off 85 balls, with nine fours. Tayyab Arif made 30 off 40 balls and Mohammad Taha 29. Only Ali Usman, with 15 not out, and captain Saad Baig, with 10, reached double figures among the rest.
For Sri Lanka, Madushanka, Kumara and Rathnayaka took two wickets each in the first innings. Prabath Jayasuriya and Nuwantha took one each.
What the Sri Lanka warm-up win means for the Test
The result will please Sri Lanka’s management. Their bowlers took 20 wickets in the match, and their batters spent useful time at the crease. The tourists now move to Rawalpindi, where the first Test starts on Monday, November 9.
Pakistan will take their own lessons from the game. The Patrons XI side was not the Test team, but the batting collapse will concern the selectors. The home side’s bowlers did take wickets, with Saqib Khan and Ubaid Shah among those who impressed.
Feature Pakistan has followed the Sri Lanka tour and the build-up to the Test series. Shadman Islam was stretchered off with an ankle injury during the second West Indies Test, Devon Conway was ruled out of the ODI series against India, the PCB has agreed NOC terms for the Abu Dhabi T10 and the PCB is in talks with New Zealand over a tour schedule.
What was the score in the warm-up match?
Sri Lanka won by 142 runs. They set the PCB Patrons XI 253 to win, then bowled them out for 111.
Who was Sri Lanka’s best bowler?
Keshara Nuwantha took four wickets for 26 runs in seven overs. Eshan Malinga took three wickets.
Who top-scored for Sri Lanka?
Milan Rathnayaka top-scored with 40 in the second innings. Anjala Bandara made 34.
When does the first Test start?
The first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka starts on Monday, November 9, in Rawalpindi.
