Wicketkeeper-captain Rivaldo Clarke’s all-round show kept the West Indies Academy in the game against Sri Lanka Emerging Players.
All-round Rivaldo Clarke keeps West Indies Academy in the game
Sri Lanka Emerging Players were bowled out for 356 after captain Dinura Kalupahana won the toss and opted to bat first at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Sooriyawewa, Hambantota.
Batting at No.7, wicketkeeper Dinura Kalupahana lifted them from 133-7, adding 60 for the eighth wicket with Shakthi Udara (13) and 142 for the ninth with Nisala Abeyratne (48). Bandara was last out, for a 217-ball 163 that included 19 fours. For the visitors, Johann Layne claimed 3-68 and Ryan Bandoo 3-45 as Clarke held five catches behind the stumps.
Play – The bowling ’keepers quiz: Who had 11 wickets and 11 stumpings in Test cricket?
Clarke’s next act came when he walked out at the fall of Mavendra Dinyal (60), at 134-4. He put on 115 with Shaqkere Parris (55), then 57 with Amari Goodridge (28), and another 73 with Layne (35) before finally departing. Clarke’s 127 took him 218 balls, and included 11 fours and a six. It was enough to get WIA a 25-run first-innings lead even as Shakthi Udara returned 6-102.
SLEP became 91-5 but recovered to 173-5 by stumps, and stretched the sixth-wicket stand to 162 on the final morning. On the third day, Clarke took his pads off and bowled 11 overs, but they were in vain. By the time Jediah Blades got Pulindu Perera (87), SLEP were 253.
At the time of writing, SLEP were 276-6 with Bandara (106) and Tharinda Nirmal (16) at the crease. They lead by 251 runs.
