Sri Lanka hammers W. Australia

Press, 28 December 1987, Page 13

Sri Lanka hammers W. Australia

NZPA-AAP Perth A blistering century by Aravinda De Silva set the Sri on the path to a runaway 61 run victory over Western Australia in a limited overs match at the W.A.C.A. Ground on Saturday. And then to celebrate his dazzling 112, the little 22-year-old helped to wreck the West Australian innings with his persistent off-spinners. He paved the way for Sri Lanka’s total of 5-291 off 49 overs and then he took 3-49 off 10 overs as West Australia managed 230 for the loss of nine wickets. Sri Lanka scored at the sparkling rate of 5.93 an over and Western Australia was never really in the race. De Silva hit six fours and two sixes in scoring his 112 runs with great flair off only 107 deliveries in 146 minutes. De Silva wasn’t the only batsman to pulverise the bowlers. The opener, Roshan Mahanama, and vice-cap-tain, Arjuna Ranatunga, also pummelled the attack. He was out in the 47th over, lofting a catch to mid-off. De Silva was in two excellent partnerships — 119 in 79 minutes with Mahanama for the second wicket and 83 in 49 minutes with Ranatunga for the third wicket. Mahanama cracked six boundaries in his bright 64.0 ff 96 deliveries in 132 minutes and the lefthanded Ranatunga blazed his way to a brilliant 51, including six fours and two sixes, before he mistimed a big hit off legspinner, Steve Milosz, and was caught at short midwicket. He was most impressive in scoring 51 off only 41 balls in 49 minutes. It was a marvellous start to the tour by the Sri Lankans, who arrived in Perth only last Wednesday and had an interrupted preparation because unseasonal rain had flooded the practice

pitches. And it was a feeble effort by the West Australian side, holders of the Sheffield Shield, who were without injured captain, Graeme Wood, and test men, Bruce Reid, Geoff Marsh and Mike Veletta. But it is hard to take anything away from the Sri Lankans who batted with a refreshing charm and made the West Australian attack look second rate. The Sri Lankan batsmen shone, but it was also of some significance that the young fast bowler, Graeme Labrooy, had West Australia in early trouble by dismissing openers Mark McPhee for 15 and Kim Hughes 12, in a lively and impressive opening spell. Labrooy took 2-21 in his first spell of six overs and finished with 2-30 off nine overs. He looks set for a successful tour. SRI LANKA R. Mahanama b Milosz. . 64 A. Gurusinghi c McPhee b Aiderman 19 P. A. De Silva c Aiderman b Capes 112 A. Ranatunga c Shipperd b Milosz 51 R. Madugalle c Aiderman b Matthews 9 H. Tillekeratne not out. . 5 G. de Alwis not out. . . . 4 Extras (lbls, w7, nb5)27 Total (for 5 wkts) 291 Fall: 49, 168, 251, 278, 281. Bowling.— Aiderman 10, 1, 28, 1; Capes 10, 0, 48, 1 (3nb 2w); Matthews 9,0, 47, 1 (Inb 2w); Milosz 10, 0, 60, 2; Breman 5,0, 53, 0 (Inb 2w); Andrews 5, O, 40, 0. WESTERN AUSTRALIA K. Hughes lbw b Labrooy 12 M. McPhee b Labrooy . . 15 T. Moody std de Alwis b A. De Silva 45 W. Andrews c de Alwis b Ratnayake 16 G. Shipperd c Ranatunga b P. A. De Silva 49 T. Zoehrer c and b P. A. De Silva 36 T. Breman c Ranatunga b Ratnayake 21 C. Matthews b P. A. De Silva 8 P. Capes c de Alwis b Amalean ........ 1 T. Aiderman not out . . . 8 S. Milosz not out 3 Extras (lb 9 w3, nb4)... 16 Total (for 9 Wkts) 230 Fall: 24, 35, 58, 123, 182, 191, 201, 204, 222. Bowling.— J. R. Ratnayake 10, 2, 32, 2 (lnb); G. Labrooy 9, 0, 30, 2 (2nb 2w); K. Amalean 10, 0, 56, 1; A. De Silva 10, 1, 54, 1; P. A. De Silva 10, 0, 49, 3 (Inb lw).