da bet7k： Sri Lanka A completed a three-nil clean sweep in their unofficial Testseries against Kenya on Sunday when they defeated the visitors by 199 runsat Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
CricInfo17-Feb-2002Sri Lanka A completed a three-nil clean sweep in their unofficial Testseries against Kenya on Sunday when they defeated the visitors by 199 runsat Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.The third game was the most keenly contested of the series, with Kenyashowing greater discipline and determination than they had hitherto displayed,but the hosts always looked likely winners having posted a formidable 404run target.Kenya’s openers, Ravindu Shah (48) and Kennedy Otieno (45), begun resolutelyon Saturday and this morning they extended their opening partnership to 88before they were parted.But once separated only Steve Tikolo provided substantive resistance, the31-year-old scoring a solid and unusually restrained 58 from 131 balls.Tikolo finished the series with one century and two fifties to become Kenya’s highest run scorer of the series with an aggregate of 314 runs.Shah, the only other visiting batsman to impress on the tour, displaying anunflappable temperament and an organised technique, finished with a 307 runaggregate.Collins Obuya was the pick of the Kenyan bowlers, finishing with 11 wickets.Upul Chandana was Sri Lanka A’s outstanding player, the highest run scorer(287) and wicket taker (18).Tillakaratne Dilshan also impressed, probably doing enough to book a berthon Sri Lanka’s tour of England, where his soundness against fast bowlinggives him an edge over his rivals.Of the bowlers, Ruchira Perera was typically full of energy and effort,despite unfavourable conditions for the faster bowlers.Muthumudalige Pushpakumara had a relatively poor series with the willow, butmade an impression with his off-breaks, taking 12 wickets.Rangana Herath waited the final innings before he made his mark, pickingfive for 52 with his accurate left-arm spin.Indeed, it was Herath that eventually broke Kenya’s gritty first wicketpartnership, as Shah feathered a catch into the safe gloves of PrassanaJayawardene behind the stumps.He then picked up Otieno at short leg off bat and pad. Next over, MauriceOdumbe also perished from a bat-pad catch, this time off Chandana.Kenya, 88 for no loss at one stage, were now in trouble on 104 for three.Hitesh Modi and Tikolo tried to consolidate, adding 32 for the fourthwicket, but when Modi – who hit four boundaries in his 22 – was bowledaround his legs whilst trying to sweep, Kenya started an inevitable slide todefeat.David Obuya registered a 24 minute duck before edging to slip and PalusthiGunaratne, a 28-year with a strong slingy action, took two wickets in twoballs: Collins Obuya trapped lbw and Martin Suji clean bowled.Gunaratne also trapped Joseph Angara lbw and Herath picked up Brijesh Patelbefore Tikolo was last man out, caught and bowled off a leading edge.