Sri Lanka in charge at Fenner’s

Sri Lanka bowled British Universities out for 125 and then reached 140/4 in their second innings to put themselves in command on second day of the first match of their tour of England.

British Universties resumed from their overnight position of 13/2 and Shirazi and Wainwright moved the score to 59 before Shirazi was caught by Samaraweera off Vaas for 15. Wainwright followed soon after, caught behind off Vaas having scored 40.

The students lost wickets regularly, stumbling to 125 all out despite Surrey batsman Richard Clinton’s defiant 44. Sri Lanka’s new ball pairing Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa claimed 4 wickets each.

Sri Lanka were given a scare when they returned to bat, though. The tourists lost their first 3 wickets for 6 runs. David Balcome then added the wicket of Dilshan to his earlier capture of captain Mahela Jayawardene, to reduce Sri Lanka to 38/4. However, Thilan Samarweera steadied the Sri Lankan ship, putting on an unbeaten 102 partnership with 19 year old Chamara Kapugedera. Samaraweera finished on 82 and Kapugedera reached 40 to re-establish Sri Lanka’s winning position ahead of the final day.

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 140-4
Thilan Samaraweera 82*, Chamara Kapugedera 40*
David Balcome 2-44, Ruel Brathwaite 1-27