Seventh-wicket pair rescues Sri Lanka A

Prasanna Jayawardene and Gayan Wijekoon came together in a face-saving seventh-wicket stand to help Sri Lanka A finish on 175 for 6 at the end of the opening day of the second unofficial cricket Test against Pakistan 'A' at Dambulla.

Winning the toss and batting first, Sri Lanka A collapsed to 82 for 6 before Jayawardene and Wijekoon figured in an unfinished partnership of 93 off 167 balls and lent the total some respectability. Jayawardene was unbeaten on 59, including six fours, and it was his second successive half-century following an unbeaten 66 in the first Test at Kandy. Giving him company was Wijekoon with 35 not out. Pakistan A missed an opportunity of separating the pair at 128 when Rauf failed to hold onto a return catch from Jayawardene when his score was on 37.

The Sri Lanka A top order once again failed to deliver against a seam attack that exploited a firm pitch that offered bounce. Mohammad Asif and Najaf Shah removed the top six batsmen for just 82 runs in 29.1 overs before Jayawardene and Wijekoon staged a fightback.