da apostaganha： Middle order batsman Chamara Silva celebrated his call-up into the SriLankan Test squad with a brilliant hundred to guide his Board XI side to adramatic five-wicket win against Zimbabwe at P
Charlie Austin23-Dec-2001Middle order batsman Chamara Silva celebrated his call-up into the SriLankan Test squad with a brilliant hundred to guide his Board XI side to adramatic five-wicket win against Zimbabwe at P. Saravanamuttu Stadium onSunday.The Board XI, asked to score 220 in 42 overs after a sporting declarationfrom Zimbabwe, reached the target with just four balls to spare as Silvaclattered two consecutive boundaries off medium pacer Gary Brent.Silva, called into a 14-man squad for the first Test when the Sri Lankanselectors met on Friday night, smashed an unbeaten 127 in 118 balls to equalhis highest ever first class score.The elegant 22-year-old right-hander could have been run out when on 27 and78, but rode his luck in an otherwise classy innings full of improvised andwristy strokeplay. Quick on his feet and positive throughout, he hit 15fours and one six.Silva came to the wicket after the early fall of first innings centurionGayan Ramyakumara. He added 35 with skipper Pradeep Hewage (27) and 35 withteenager Jeewan Mendis (7), but after the fall of the fourth wicket (80 for4) a win looked unlikely for the home team.However, Silva found a willing partner in leg-spinning all-rounder MalingaBandara (32) – who partially made amends for his erratic bowling – with whomhe added 87 to keep their hopes alive. But when Bandara was clean bowled byHenry Olonga the Board XI still needed 53 from 7.3 overs.Ian Daniel, who had been forced down the order with a bruised hip and neededa runner, joined Silva. The pair managed to raise the tempo, swinging thebat profitably, as Olonga was clubbed for 28 in his last three overs.The Sri Lankans were left needing five from the last over, but Brent wasunable to contain Silva, who whipped him through the on-side for the winningboundaries.Earlier in the day, Zimbabwe had started their second innings with a 50 runslead, courtesy of an overnight declaration by the hosts.They lost both openers cheaply as Hamiliton Masakadza shouldered arms firstball to be trapped lbw and Trevor Gripper flashed a catch behind off PrabathNissanka, another new face in the Test squad, who took just one wicket inthe game.But after the early wobble Craig Wishart (28) and Gavin Rennie (68) steadiedthe innings before pre-declaration cameos from Andy Flower (25 not out) andStuart Carlisle (19 not out).Geoff Marsh, the Zimbabwean coach, was, on balance, happy with his side’slast workout before the first Test starting next Thursday.”It would have been nice to go into the Test match with a win or winningdraw and it was disappointing to lose from that position, because we couldhave won or saved it, but in the end the bowlers had a good workout and thebatsmen a couple of hits,” Marsh said.”You learn every day in this game and there are things that we learnt herein the last couple of hours that will hopefully help us in the Testmatches.””The performance of Trevor Gripper and Stuart Carlisle was very pleasing onthe first day. The wicket was a little damp and the boys stayed positive andplayed well. Gavin Rennie also played well today, as did Andy (Flower), butaside from that we would have liked a few other players to score runs.”With strike bowlers Travis Friend and Heath Streak both rested, the bowlingdepartment looked weak, with the form of leg-spinner Murphy being a concern.”Brian (Murphy) hasn’t bowled for six weeks and he didn’t have his rhythm inthis match at all,” Marsh admitted.