Samson hogs the limelight

Sri Lanka has left no stone unturned as far as its preparations for the upcoming series is concerned. The fact that it used 10 bowlers and two wicketkeepers in the drawn affair spoke how meticulously the touring side took care of every aspect of the game.

Board President XI's Sanju Samson hits a shot en route his 128 against Sri Lanka in a warm-up match on Sunday.

Board President's XI captain Sanju Samson hogged the limelight with a fine century even as Sri Lanka used the final day of its two-day warm-up engagement at the Jadavpur University ground here to give its bowlers some match time ahead of the first Test against India, starting at the Eden Gardens on November 16.

Learning from its heavy defeat in the Test series back home, Sri Lanka has left no stone unturned as far as its preparations for the upcoming series is concerned. The fact that it used 10 bowlers and two wicketkeepers in the drawn affair spoke how meticulously the touring side took care of every aspect of the game.

The task was well cut out for the Lankan bowlers as the team management did not want to stretch them too much even while getting them warmed up for an important series. Most of them bowled short spells with only three bowling in excess of 10 overs. Chinaman bowler Lakshan Sandakan bowled the longest spell of eight overs.

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The use of 10 bowlers, including regular wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella, might have been a well thought out plan to give everyone who could roll his arm over a feel of the conditions. Besides, it might have been done not to burden the mainline bowlers before the opening Test.

Angelo Mathews, who returned to this series after recovering from a calf muscle injury, did not bowl. Apparently, the Lankans did not want to exert additional pressure on the all-rounder who, in all likelihood, would not bowl in the Tests.

Sharing the new ball with Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Gamage looked good with his line and pace as he effected the first two dismissals within 10 overs. Tanmay Agarwal was adjudged lbw while shouldering arm, while Anmolpreet Singh was caught brilliantly by a diving Dasun Shanka at point.

Sanju emerged as the hero of the day with a well-crafted hundred. Treating the opportunity seriously, he played the balls on merit. The Kerala batsman executed some crispy shots to the boundary, most of them coming from a straight bat.

Sanju (128 off 143 balls, 19x4, 1x6) formed three partnerships — 68 runs with Jiwanjot Singh (35), 71 with Rohan Prem (39) and 85 with B. Sandeep (33 not out) — and played a key role in taking his team to a respectable total.

The Board captain drove Dhananjay de Silva to cover for a double to get a confidence-boosting century. He hit the following ball for a six over mid-wicket and pleased the sparse fans, who otherwise remained busy taking selfies with Mathews.

Sanju was caught behind by substitute 'keeper Sadeera Samarawickrama off left-arm pacer Vishwa Fernando.

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka (1st innings): 411 for nine decl. Board President's XI: Tanmay Agarwal lbw b Gamage 16, Jiwanjot Singh c Dickwella b Perera 35, Anmolpreet Singh c Shanaka b Gamage 3, Sanju Samson c Samarawickrama b Fernando 128, Rohan Prem b Dhananjay 39, B. Sandeep (not out) 33, Jalaj Saxena (not out) 20. Extras (b-4, lb-5, nb-4) 13, Total (for five wickets in 75 overs) 287. Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-31, 3-99, 4-17-, 5-255. Sri Lanka bowling: Suranga Lakmal 8-3-18-0, Lahiru Gamage 11-1-41-2, Vishwa Fernando 10-2-51-1, Dasun Shanaka 8-0-36-0, Rangana Herath 6-0-15-0, Dilruwan Perera 9-1-22-1, Lakshan Sandakan 12-1-54-0, Dhananjay de Silva 7-1-35-1, Roshen Silva 3-1-3-0, Niroshan Dickwella 1-0-3-0.