Sri Lanka A cricket team led by Nipun Dhananjaya took major honours at the second four-day unofficial Test match which ended in a draw at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

England chasing a target of 284 runs in 52 overs were stalled by bad light which stopped play with 13 overs to spare when the umpires Gamini Dissanayake and Ravindra Kottachchi called off the game at 5.35 pm.

The final day started with a 75-minute delay at 11 a.m due to wet outfield while two overnight batters Lasith Embuldeniya and Nishan Madushka repaired the innings. Madushka the right hander made two back-to-back boundaries and got a single to complete a well-deserved century in grand style. Madushka who scored 241 in their previous four-day game was once again in good form to get a remarkable century but as soon as he completed his century he tried to pull a ball from Josh Tongue but was well caught by Sam Cook at long on. Josh Tongue the paceman took five wickets in the first innings.

The night watchman Lasith Embuldeniya ( 13) and skipper Nipun Dhananjaya (15) were unable to stay long wicket keeper Lahiru Udara played a good innings of 63 in 71 balls with 8 fours well supported by Lakshitha Manasinghe who was unfortunately out seven runs away his well deserved half century hit 7 fours in his 36-ball innings to pass the 350 mark.

The 25-year-old paceman from Worcestershire Josh Tongue took 3 for 77 while 22 year old promising off-spinner from Northern Ireland who is playing for Sussex was the most successful English bowler finishing with 4 for 94 which was his back-to-back second 4 wicket haul of this series (4/173 at the first four day at the same venue).

England Lions had a winning target of 284 but they couldn’t lay a good platform as experienced opener Alex Lees was out early scoring 9 in 8 balls clean bowled by leg spinner Praveen Jayawickrama in the 4th over. Skipper Haseeb Hameed top scored with 47 in 66 balls with 2 fours and a six while Josh Bohannan was unbeaten on 34 in 50 balls with a four. The bowling all-rounder Matthew Fisher hit 22 in 19 balls LBW to off spinner Lakshitha Manasinghe who finished with best figures of 5 for 61 in his 16-over spell while leg spinners Lasith Embuldeniya and Praveen Jayawickrama took one wicket each.

The two four-day unofficial Test match series ended with no decisions as both matches were drawn while England Lions will meet Sri Lanka A in their three one-days which will commence on February 15 at R.Premadsa International Cricket Stadium followed by the second and third ODI on the 18th and 21st at the same venue.

Chief scores

Sri Lanka A: 332 and 356 (Nishan Madushka 100, Lasith Croospulle 47, Kamindu Mendis 67, Lasith Embuldeniya 13, Nipun Dhananjaya 15, Lahiru Udara 63, Lakshitha Manasinghe 43, Josh Tongue 3/77, Jack Carson 4/94)

England Lions: 405 and 173 for 7 wickets at close (Haseeb Hameed 47, Tom Haines 10, Tom Abell 20, Josh Bohannan 34*, Jamie Smith 14, Matthew Fisher 22, Praveen Jayawickrama 1/40, Lakshitha Manasinghe 5/61,Lasith Embuldeniya 1/51