da realbet： The first unofficial four-day Test between Kenya and Sri Lanka A looked tobe meandering towards a probable draw at the end of a soporific third day
CricInfo02-Feb-2002The first unofficial four-day Test between Kenya and Sri Lanka A looked tobe meandering towards a probable draw at the end of a soporific third day.Sri Lanka A have the best chance of forcing a result after overhauling theKenyan’s first innings score of 292 and then establishing a 122 run lead asthey posted 414 for nine declared.At stumps, Kenya were 31 for one, having lost wicket-keeper batsman KennedyOtieno in the second over of the innings.Sri Lanka, who started the day on 122 for one, made slow progress in theextended days play, as the Kenyans quickly jumped onto the defensive;bowling one side of the wicket with a well spread field.Mindful of the need to impress the selectors – who have perched themselveshigh up on the media centre and not missed a ball all game – before theupcoming selection of the squad for the tour of England, the Sri Lankanbatsman refused to take the necessary risks to counter such a policy.In the morning, Ian Daniel became the second player to pass fifty, beforegoing onto make 71 from 186 balls.After he was bowled, Michael Vandort (75 from 171 balls) and TillakartneDilshan (82 from 167 balls) added 82 for the third wicket.With Vandort disappointed to have been adjudged lbw to a short ball fromleg-spinner Collins Obuya, Dilshan added a further 87 with Chamara Silva (56from 74 balls) either side of tea.But just when Sri Lanka A captain Upul Chandana would have been stating toponder an evening declaration target, the home team collapsed, losing sixwickets for 39 runs.The shift in fortunes was sparked by some lackadaisical running between thewickets. Dilshan, progressing smoothly and elegantly towards his century,pushed to point and set off for a quick single. Silva failed to respond andboth batsmen were left stranded at the non-striker’s end.Left-arm spinner Mohammad Sheikh grabbed two wickets: Silva was caught atextra cover and Chandana behind the wicket having already been dropped twicein the over.Wicket-keeper Prassana Jayawardene was snaffled in the gully region andMuthumudalige Pushpakumara ran himself out, whilst Kaushalaya Weeraratne wasstumped.Prabath Nissanka (23 not out from 30 balls) saved some face with two sixesand a spirited 30 run stand for the final wicket with Ruchira Perera (10 notout) before the declaration.