England draws tour cricket

Press, 11 February 1986, Page 24

England draws tour cricket

NZPA-ReuterKandy, Sri Lanka Derek Pringle and Stephen Rhodes steered England B to a draw in the third four-day game with Sri Lanka on Sunday. Rhodes was unbeaten on 40 and Pringle hit an undefeated 38 to lift the touring party to five for 221 when bad light ended Play. Resuming at none for 37 and chasing 292 for victory, the overnight pair, Wilf Slack and Bill Athey, had taken the score to 60 in even time when Athey was brilliantly caught by Sanjeewa Weerasinghe at point off Jayananda Warnaweera for 38. . Chris Smith added 451 with Slack before he was well held by the wicketkeeper, Amal Silva, off Warnaweera, for 18. The captain, Mark Nicholas, scored just one when he too fell to a fine piece of

fielding - Asanka Gurusinghe picking up a beautiful catch at short square leg to give Warnaweera his third wicket. Derek Randall lasted just four balls before falling leg before to Warnaweera without scoring, leaving England on a shaky four for 113. Slack hit six fours in a dogged 67 in 283 minutes before he was fifth man out at 150 when Aravinda de Silva, a part-time bowler, bowled him. Pringle joined Rhodes and the sixth-wicket pair figured in an unfinished 71-run stand in 94 minutes to save the match. The first three games of the five-match series have now all ended in draws Scores: Sri Lanka 271 and nine for 180 declared. England B 160 and five for 221. Match drawn.