Opening batter Lasith Croospulle hit a stunning 103 off 76 balls to lead Sri Lanka ‘A’ to a 44-run DLS-method win over New Zealand ‘A’ at Suriyawewa on Wednesday, sealing the three-match One-Day series 2-0 with a game to spare.
Croospulle, a former Maris Stella College, Negombo cricketer, anchored the home innings with 13 fours and six sixes as Sri Lanka ‘A’ posted a commanding 368 for nine in their allotted 50 overs. New Zealand ‘A’ were restricted to 158 for three in a rain-reduced chase before the match was called in Sri Lanka’s favour under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
Captain Sahan Arachchige supported the opener with 76 off 68 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes, while young all-rounder Sonal Dinusha struck 93 off 77 deliveries with six fours and four sixes in a destructive finish. Dinusha, who has already made his Test debut and drawn attention for his fielding, sacrificed his wicket in a bid to score quick runs late in the innings.
Croospulle, who has represented Sri Lanka in one T20 International, strengthened his case for a regular white-ball spot with the innings.
The selectors used the series to assess second-string players with one year to go before the next One-Day International World Cup cycle, and Sri Lanka ‘A’ coach and support staff will take confidence from a batting performance that covered both top-order assertiveness and late-overs acceleration. The touring Kiwis now face a dead third One-Dayer before the series transitions to the four-day fixtures.
