da betway： Sri Lanka A gradually wrestled the initiative away from Kenya on the secondday of the third unofficial Test match despite two plucky partnerships fromthe visitor’s lower order
CricInfo15-Feb-2002Sri Lanka A gradually wrestled the initiative away from Kenya on the secondday of the third unofficial Test match despite two plucky partnerships fromthe visitor’s lower order.Kenya were well positioned at the start of play on the second morning, butSri Lanka’s spinners soon weaved their way through their top order in thefirst hour.Were it not for partnerships of 67 and 59 for the sixth and ninth wicketsrespectively, Kenya would be struggling to prevent a three-day finish.Sri Lanka A still established a useful 42 run lead, which was then extendedto 167, as Sri Lanka A finished the second day on 125 for three thanks to anentertaining half-century from Upeka Fernando.Fernando, 22, who secured his place after a bristling 86 off 98 balls in thesecond Test, continued in the same vein here, hitting ten fours in his 83-ball61.Avishka Gunawardene (40) added 76 runs for the first wicket with Fernandobefore pulling a leg-break from Collins Obuya straight into the hands ofsquare leg.Micahel Vandort mistimed a drive – one of a number to do so on a turgidpitch that is getting slower and lower by the hour – and was well caught atmid on.When Fernando was caught in the covers, Tillakaratne Dilshan and ChamaraSilva batted cautiously till the close, clearly determined not to wastetheir last chance to impress the selectors against Kenya’s weak bowling.The visitors now need to take early wickets tomorrow morning if they are tohave a chance to stave off a whitewash. The lead is already competitive fora side struggling to play spin.Earlier, Kenya, resuming on 69, lost the crucial wicket of opener RavinduShah, scorer 94 in the first Test and 106 in the second, early on as heedged a leg-break from Upul Chandana into the hands of Upeka Fernando atslip.Chandana went on to claim five wickets in the innings, taking his tally to16 in the series, including the prize scalp of Steve Tikolo for 42. Theright-hander drove loosely and was caught at mid-off.Maurice Odumbe was adjudged lbw next ball – much to his anger – and theleft-handed Hitesh Modi drove an off-break from Muthumudalige Pushpakumarato mid-off.Kenya had once again exposed their weakness against slow bowling, losingfour wickets for nine runs to leave themselves in a perilous position (82for five).But, like they had done yesterday in the field, Kenya fought back, as DavidObuya, playing his first game of the tour scored 38 from 91 balls and MartinSuji made 28.The pair added 67 runs in 20 overs before the muscular Pulasthi Gunaratnefound the outside edge of Suji’s bat.The breakthrough was followed by two more quick wickets – David Obuyatrapped lbw and Brijesh Patel caught behind – and another spiritedpartnership.Collins Obuya clumped 49 from 69 balls, much to the delight of a coach loadof Welsh tourists who had fitted in some cricket watching into their tour ofSri Lanka’s ancient cities.Joseph Angara played his part, easing his way to 19, and helping CollinsObuya take the score to within touching distance of Sri Lanka A.However, they were unable to overhaul the hosts 262 first innings total asAngara spiraled a catch to mid off and Peter Ochieng missed a leg-break fromChandana.