SL-A vs NZ-A, 1st Unofficial ODI: Kamil Mishara, Wanuja Sahan lift Sri Lanka 1-0 up

Half-centuries from Kamil Mishara (71 off just 49), captain Sahan Arachchige (66 off 81) and Milan Rathnayake (53 off 89), followed by left-arm spinner Wanuja Sahan's frugal fifer (5 for 13), sealed a comprehensive 140-run win for Sri Lanka A in the first unofficial ODI against New Zealand A at the Galle International Stadium.

After being inserted to bat, Sri Lanka A were bowled out for 261 in 49.2 overs, with Milan and Arachchige’s sixth-wicket 110-run partnership off 149 balls being the highlight of the innings after Mishara’s attacking knock at the top of the order. Mishara struck 12 fours and a six in his 49-ball stay, maintaining the tempo despite wickets falling at the other end.

Simon Keene gave his team the first breakthrough, removing opener Lasith Croospulle cheaply before Mishara steadied the ship with Nuwanidu Fernando. Mishara dominated the partnership, scoring 37 of the 46 runs which the pair added before Kristian Clarke sent back Fernando. Next, Pavan Rathnayake showed some intent to score quickly, hitting two fours and a six in his 16 off 15, but he failed to convert the start, perishing to Muhammad Abbas.

Sri Lanka faced a mini-collapse from there, as leg-spinner Adithya Ashok struck twice in quick succession, removing the well-set Mishara and Sonal Dinusha. Arachchige and Milan Rathnayake then joined hands for a century partnership, keeping the opponents at bay for 149 deliveries. But once Arachchige was run out in the 43rd over, the innings unravelled quickly, with the team going from 236 for 6 to 261 all out.

New Zealand A used seven bowlers, and each one picked a wicket. Clarke and Ashok bagged two each, while the other five – Ben Lister, Keene, Abbas, Tim Pirngle and Dale Phillips – returned with one apiece.

In response, New Zealand never seemed in the chase once the opening partnership between Phillips (30 off 17) and Rhys Mariu (19 off 22) was broken. The duo added 51 in 38 balls before walking back off successive deliveries, as Wanuja trapped Phillips lbw, while Mariu was run out on the next ball.

Wanuja then coaxed No. 3 Tim Robinson (9 off 10) out of his crease to have him stumped in the next over and soon had Mitchell Hay caught for 8 off 18. Wanuja’s fellow left-arm spinner Sonal Dinusha joined the act with a double-wicket over, seeing the back of Abbas (11 off 34) and Keene (11 off 12).

Clarke held on, remaining unbeaten on 18 off 22, but wickets kept falling at the opposite end. Wanuja completed his fifer with the wickets of Ashoke and Lister, while New Zealand’s injured captain Max Chu could not bat as the visitors were restricted to 121 in 28.4 overs.