Sri Lanka Open Tour Of England With Victory

Sri Lanka Open Tour Of England With Victory

Thilan Samaraweera scored 49 as Sri Lanka chased down 213 to beat Middlesex at Uxbridge

©REUTERS/Andrew Caballero-Reynolds (SRI LANKA SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Sri Lankans 309-2 dec. (Dilshan 123). & 216-6 beat
Middlesex 360-8 dec. (Strauss 151) & 161 by 4 wickets
Tour game, Uxbridge

Sri Lanka opened their tour of England with a morale-boosting four-wicket win over Middlesex in which their bowlers impressed, turning around the game.

After both sides declared having passed 300 in their first innings, a draw seemed the most plausible result before Middlesex were dismissed for 161 in their second innings.

That set Sri Lanka a target of 213, which they achieved for the loss of six wickets to taste victory ahead of another tour match against the England Lions later in the week at Derby.

The victory was all the more impressive given that Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene are yet to feature due to Indian Premier League commitments, although new captain Tillakaratne Dilshan settled into his role nicely.

He scored 123 in 134 balls before retiring, as did Tharanga Paranavitana having made 103 in 146 balls before Sri Lanka declared on 309 for two.

That was in reply to Middlesex's 360 for eight, in which England Test captain Andrew Strauss made his frist appearance of the summer by scoring 151.

Daniel Housego weighed in with 104 but the game turned in the third innings, in which left-arm quick Chanaka Welagedara and spinner Ajantha Mendis took three wickets apiece to bundle the home side out in 48.5 overs.

Despite giving time in the middle to the players that hadn't batted in the first innings, Sri Lanka reached their target with five overs to spare.

Thilan Samaraweera led the way with 49 while Dinesh Chandimal (39), Lahiru Thirimanne (33) and Paranavitana (29) also played their part.

The four-day game against the England Lions gets underway on Thursday 19th May.

© Cricket World 2011