Sri Lanka prepare for New Zealand challenge with unchanged T20I squad
Sri Lanka have named a strong 16-member squad led by Charith Asalanka for a six-match white-ball series involving three T20Is followed by three ODIs, against New Zealand.
Sri Lanka scored 264 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 50 overs against India in their last match of the 2019 Cricket World Cup at Headingley, Leeds.
Winning the toss, Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne decided to bat first.
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Sri Lanka lost their captain Karunaratne (10) when the team’s score was 17 and soon Kusal Perera (18) joined Karunaratne in the dugout. India ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah claimed the wickets of both the batsmen.
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Before Sri Lanka could have some respite, Ravindra Jadeja — who is playing his first match of 2019 World Cup — sent Kusal Mendis (3) back to the hut to announce his arrival. The wicket of Avishka Fernando worsened the things for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka were four down at 55 and it seemed that India would soon wrap them up. But Angelo Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne erected the Sri Lankan spine with a 124-run stand.
In a bid to boost the run rate, Thirimanne departed off the bowling of Kuldeep Yadav after a well-made 53. But Mathews continued further to score the third century of his career to take Sri Lanka to a fighting total.
Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowler for his 3 for 37 in 10 overs.
Brief scorecard: Sri Lanka 264 for 7 after 50 overs (Angelo Mathews 113, Lahiru Thirimanne 53, Jasprit Bumrah 3/37)
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