Students hang on for draw

Sri Lanka were narrowly denied a victory against the British Universities XI, after Thilan Samaraweera’s hundred earlier in the day.

The students were set an improbable 421 to win, Mahela Jayawardene chose to give his batsmen some time in the middle instead of chasing the victory. Samaraweera began on 82, and played some fluent strokes, including a straight drive to bring up his century. He retired out on 114.

He received able support from Chamara Kapugedera and Prasanna Jayawardene, who made 49 and 52 not out respectively. Mahela Jayawardene called his players in on 256-6, to let his bowlers get some practice.

Seam bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa got themselves an early wicket each, reducing the students to 34-2. Bandara struck as Luke Parker and Damien Shizari looked, removing both of them either side of tea.

With the students blocking, four more wickets followed shortly as they slumped to 92-8. However, the light was deteriorating, and Sri Lanka were forced to introduce spin at each end, on a pitch where all but three of their wickets had fallen to pace bowlers.

Sri Lanka only had one front-line spinner, in Malinga Bandara, and had to bowl part-timers at one end. They tried everything they could to remove the batsmen, David Balcombe and Paul Harrison, but it was to no avail. They hung on to score a 38-run partnership, a secure a draw for their side.

Sri Lanka 289 all out
Upul Tharanga 100
Ruel Brathwaite 3-61, Mali Richards 3-62

British Universities XI 125 all out
Richard Clinton 44
Chaminda Vaas 4-34, Nuwan Zoysa 4-38

Sri Lanka 256-6 dec.
Thilan Samaraweera 114, Prasanna Jayawardene 52*
David Balcombe 3-67, Ruel Braithwaite 1-47

British Universities XI 130-8
Paul Harrison 28*, Damien Shizari 20
Chaminda Vaas 2-10, Nuwan Zoysa 2-20, Malinga Bandara 2-25