ST JOHN’S – The trio of Dilum Sudeera, Dulaj Samuditha and Ashian Daniel spun a web around West Indies Academy’s batters to propel Sri Lanka Emerging Players to a 75-run win inside three days in the opening four-day match in Antigua on Monday.
The three spinners accounted for all 10 wickets to fall in the Academy’s second innings, as the home side in pursuit of 297 for victory were bowled out for 222 in 50.5 overs at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, despite a valiant half-century by opener Akeem Auguste.
The match was evenly poised at one stage with the Academy on 113 for one, but a middle-order collapse saw them lose their last six wickets for 39 runs.
That didn’t seem to be on the cards when Auguste and Mbeki Joseph were at the crease during an 82-run partnership following the early loss of opener Justin Jagessar for seven.
However, once Joseph lost his wicket for 25, the home side lost two more wickets in quick succession, including the wicket of Auguste for 82 off 95 balls, to slump to 132 for four.
Carlon Bowen-Tuckett, who made 43 and Rivaldo Clarke, who scored 36, tried to revive the innings in a 49-run stand, but once the latter lost his wicket, the Academy’s innings folded tamely.
Sudeera led the way for Sri Lanka with 4-51, Samuditha took 3-46 and Daniel 3-55.
Earlier after Sri Lanka resumed the day on 141 for five, an overall lead of 222 runs, left-arm pacer Nathan Edward ran through the lower order to dismiss them for 219.
Edward took 6-23 from 14.2 overs, while left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop claimed 3-41.
CMC
Brief scores
SRI LANKA ACADEMY 292 & 219 in 58.2 overs (Ravindu Rasantha 65, Shevon Daniel 50, Janishka Perera 34, Dhananjaya Lakshan 28, Sohan de Livera 26; Nathan Edward 6-23, Joshua Bishop 3-41) vs WEST INDIES ACADEMY 214 & 222 in 50.5 overs (Ackeem Auguste 82, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett 43, Rivaldo Clarke 36, Mbeki Joseph 25; Dilum Sudeera 4-51, Dulaj Samuditha 3-46, Ashian Daniel 3-55).
Sri Lanka Emerging Players won by 75 runs.
