Nipun Dhananjaya made an unbeaten 65 while leg spinner Dushan Hemantha once again stepped up claiming three for 27 and paceman Isitha Wijesundara took 3 for 14 as Sri Lanka A recorded an easy sixwicket win over England Lions in their third and final ODI to take the series 2-1 at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Sri Lanka A led by Sadeera Samarawickrma had the match in their grasp from the start as England Lions were bundled out for just 166 runs in 45 overs, Sri Lanka A barely broke a sweat and chased the target to win the game and win the series.
Openers Lasith Croospulle (18) and Nuwanidu Fernando (10) added 28 runs in 5.5 overs while Nipun Dhananjaya who replaced Angelo Mathews to play his first game led a solid platform for Lanka A by scoring well fluent knock of unbeaten 65 in 76 with 4 fours followed by all-rounder Sahan Arachchige with his unbeaten 22 in 28 balls with 2 fours helped achieve the required target in 32.1 overs. Earlier, England Lions were struggling after medium paceman Isitha Wijesundara's three wickets and another three from leg spinner Dushan Hemantha which earned him the Player of the Series award. He has taken the highest number of wickets with 11 including a five-wicket haul finishing with the best bowling figures while Nipun Dhananjaya the former National under 19 and St. Joseph Vaz Wennapuwa skipper was named the Man of the Match and received their awards from Sri Lanka Cricket Vice President Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa.
The Jubilant Sri Lanka A team coached by Avishka Gunawardena made a tremendous effort to win the ODI series while the two-match Test series ended in a winless stalemate. Skipper Sadeera Samarawickrama received the champion trophy from SLC VP Jayantha Dharmadasa.
Sadeera said to the Daily News that it was a solid team effort and all the players and supporting staff contributed in this win as well. I think this type of England Lions series is very good before the forthcoming National team New Zealand tour and credit should go to SLC for organising this series, said Sadeera. England Lions coach Ian Bell the former England cricketer said their team got good exposure during this Test and ODI series and it was good for the England youngsters who are expected to enter the National team.
Chief scores
England Lions: 166 in 45 overs (Jacob Bethell 50, Jack Haynes 13, Tom Preset 12, James Rew 15, Jordan Cox 31, Tom Hartley 22, Isitha Wijesundara 3/14, Suminda Lakshan 2/20, Dushan Hemantha 3/27, Dunith Wellalage1/33, Sahan Arachchige 1/37)
Sri Lanka A: 167 for 4 wickets in 32.1 overs (Lasith Croospulle 18, Nuwanidu Fernando 10, Lahiru Udara 21, Nipun Dhananjaya 65*, Sadeera Samarawickrama 23, Sahan Arachchige 22*, Saqib Mahamood 1/24, Tom Hartley 1/46, Mason Crane 2/41)
