Related Link : India’s Tour of Sri Lanka 2008
India had a bad day in the office in their 3-day warm-up game at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo. The tourists struggled to 196 for 8 in a rain-affected second day’s play. However, the positive of the day was that of a well made 69 from 76 balls (with 8 fours and a six) from ace batsman Sachin Tendulkar. Dinesh Karthik provided respectability to the Indian total with an unbeaten 58 (from 105 balls with 6 fours).
The Indians had bowled out Sri Lanka Board XI for a moderate 224 on the opening day. Left handed middle order batsman Thilana Kadamby top scored with 84 while Chamara Silva contributed 68. All the Indian bowlers had a good outing with the most successful bowler being the Skipper Anil Kumble with 3 for 30. Harbhajan and Zaheer picked up two wickets each.
In reply to the Sri Lankan Board’s XI first innings, Indians lost the wicket of Gambhir on the opening day. The second day had a delayed start and had seen just a little over 48 overs. For the home side, Dilhara Fernando got two wickets and medium pacer Dammika Prasad picked up a neat 3 for 30 in just 8 overs. Dammika Prasad had taken the wickets of Ganguly (14) and Laxman (0) in the space of three balls in the 19th over to have Indians struggling at 80 for 5! The other bowlers amongst the wickets were left arm spinner Rangana Herath and leggie Seekkuge Prasanna taking a wicket each. The first test is going to start on the 23rd at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo.