Malinga leads Sri Lankan charge

Sri Lanka are on a roll against Sussex. Their latest tour match has gone perfectly to plan, apart from one innings from the unknown Oliver Rayner scoring a quickfire ton on First Class debut.

Having chalked up 521/5 declared and striking just before the end of yesterday’s play and today scythed through Sussex’s middle order. Kulasekara started the rot, trapping Nash lbw. Then, after opening batsman Hopkinson was caught by Mubarak off Zoysa, Sussex collapsed – losing the next 3 wickets for 16 runs. This took them from a precarious 82/3 to a disasterous 98/6, as Malinga tore through the middle order.

His first victim of the day was Sean Heather, lbw without scoring. He then bowled Andrew Hodd and Luke Wright, with neither of them troubling the scorers, either.

All looked lost for Sussex, but 20 year old Rayner counter attacked – scoring 101 off just 134 balls, including 12 fours and a six. Well supported by Neil Turk, who saw Sussex’s score from 66 to 143 before he was removed by Kulasekara for 24, Duncan Spencer, 17, and James Kirtley, 28 not out, Rayner guided Sussex to a more respectable 262 all out.

Sussex only got 2 over at Sri Lanka in the tourist’s second innings, and James Kirtley made sure it was a worthwhile two overs. Kirtley, who had a horrible first innings, managed to get the wicket of first innings centurion Michael Vandort for just one run. However, Sri Lanka, leading by 264, are still firmly in control.

Sri Lanka 521-5 declared
Upul Tharanga 140, Chamara Kapugedera 134*
Timothy Linley 1/56, Christopher Nash 1/63

Sussex 262 all out
Oliver Rayner 101, Carl Hopkinson, 32
Laslith Malinga 5/79, Nuwan Kulasekara 3/35

Sri Lanka 5/1
Kumar Sangakkara 2*, Jehan Mubarak 0*
James Kirtley 1/2