A maiden List A century from Kyle Hope and a strong all-round effort from Rovman Powell studded West Indies A’s 109-run victory over Sri Lanka A in Kurunegela. The win gave the visitors a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Hope hit four sixes and ten fours in his 110-ball 107, sharing century stands with Chadwick Walton for the first wicket and Assad Fudadin for the second. Walton scored a 57-ball 70 in an opening stand of 111 in 18.1 overs. Fudadin was slower, with a 70-ball 57, but Hope’s acceleration meant the second-wicket partnership put on 109 in 17.1 overs. That partnership ended with the wicket of Hope, but West Indies A still had a strong platform, with 220 for 2 in the 36th over.
Powell made full use of that base, hitting six sixes and two fours en route to 52 off 22 balls. West Indies added 113 runs in the last ten overs to set a target of 348.
The Sri Lankan openers, Sandun Weerakkody and Danushka Gunathilaka, fell for 0 and 1 respectively leave the side at 10 for 2. Shehan Jayasuriya, who had led the bowling effort with 4 for 54, did his best to resurrect the batting with a 113-ball 119. He and Charith Asalanka added 88 for the third wicket, before a run-out ended the partnership. Thereafter, a steady stream of wickets deflated Sri Lanka A’s chase with Powell claiming 3 for 43. Sri Lanka A were ultimately bowled out for 238 in 42.1 overs.
The final match between the two sides will be held in Colombo on October 30. (ESPNcricinfo)
