Colombo, July 13: The Indian bowling attack stood exposed as Sri Lanka Board President’s XI piled up a massive 432/5 on Day One of their three-day warm up game here on Tuesday.
The Lankan top order crushed the Indian attack disdainfully as opener Upul Tharanga (116), Thilina Kandamby (101) and Thilan Samaraweera (102) smashed centuries to dominate proceedings after electing to bat first. Dinesh Chandimal (batting on 5) and Kuashjal Silva (unbeaten on 6) were at the crease for the Board President’s XI when stumps were drawn for the day at the Colts Cricket Club Ground.
The hosts scored at a frantic pace, with a run-rate close to five, as more than half of the runs came through boundaries. India missed the services of injured pace duo of Zaheer Khan and S. Sreesanth as none of the six bowlers employed by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni failed to keep the batsmen in check.
Harbhajan Singh’s absence from the line-up due to viral fever compounded troubles for Team India. Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha (3/133) and leg-spinner Amit Mishra (2/120) shared five wickets between them but gave away 253 runs in 50 overs. Pacers Ishant Sharma and Abhimnayu Mithun went wicket-less and it was not before the 35th over of the innings that India got their first success.
Ojha dismissed left-handed Tharanga after he had raised a solid opening stand of 188 with Lahiru Thirimanne (66).
The left-armer struck for the second time after four overs when he scalped Thirimanne but there was hardly a moment to rejoice after that for the visitors. Kandamby and Samaraweera frustrated the Indian bowlers by adding 180 for the third wicket.
India struck thrice in quick succession towards the end of day’s play with Mishra removing Kandamby and Ojha sending back Samaraweera. — PTI
Brief scores: Board President’s XI 432/5 (Tharanga 110, Kandamby 101, Samaraweera 102; Ojha 3/133, Mishra 2/120) vs India XI.