Vandort slams 116 as Indians toil

Opener Michael Vandort scored 116 as a Sri Lankan Board XI were bowled out for 326 on the first day of a three-day tour match against India on Wednesday.

India, in reply, were no run without loss from just one delivery at close of play.

Vandort hit 19 fours in his 159-ball knock, which gave the team a respectable total after they had been reduced to 45 for three within the first 10 overs.

Fast bowler Javagal Srinath grabbed two of his three wickets in his first spell, while Venkatesh Prasad had Charama Silva caught by wicketkeeper Sameer Dighe for 11 before Vandort shared in a 58 run third-wicket stand with Hashan Tillakeratne.

He also added 61 for the sixth wicket with captain Thilan Samaraweera, who chipped in with a fighting 76 that included nine fours and a six.

Vandort raised his hundred by sweeping left-arm spinner Rahul Sanghvi to the fine leg fence for four. He was finally caught at gully by Sadagoppan Ramesh off medium-pacer Harvinder Singh.

Sanghvi staked his claim for a place in the Test side with three wickets for 143 from his 32.5 overs.

The first of three Tests starts at Galle on August 14.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka Board XI (1st innings):
M Vandort c Ramesh b Harvinder Singh 116
A Gunawardene c Dighe b Srinath 0
K Sangakkara c Cighe b Srinath 4
C Silva c Dighe b Prasad 11
H Tillakeratne c Dighe b Sanghvi 26
T Dilshan c Kaif b Srinath 6
T Samaraweera c Srinath b Sanghvi 76
S Perera b Prasad 27
D Fernando c Kaif b Ganguly 24
S Weerakoon c Prasad b Sanghvi 14
R Perera not out 0
Extras (B3, LB8, W2, NB9) 22
Total: (86.5 overs) 326
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-26, 3-45, 4-103, 5-134, 6-195, 7-254, 8-297, 9-314.
Bowling: Srinath 16-1-68-3 (nb-7, w-1), Prasad 16.2-5-41-2 (nb-2, w-1), Harvinder Singh 12-3-43-1, Sanghvi 32.5-5-143-3, Ganguly 6.4-2-15-1, Badani 3-1-5-0.

India (1st innings):
S S Das not out 0
S Ramesh not out 0
Extras: 0
Total (for no wicket, 0.1 overs) 0
To bat: Dinesh Mongia, Hemang Badani, Sourav Ganguly, Mohammad Kaif, Sameer Dighe, Javagal Srinath, Harvinder Singh, Rahul Sanghvi, Venkatesh Prasad.

Bowling: R Perera 0.1-0-0-0

Mail Cricket Editor