Sri Lanka A take control of tour opener

Sri Lanka A 111 for 3 (Samaraweera 16*, Mubarak 0*) trail MCC 167 (Nabi 43) by 56 runs
Scorecard

Sri Lanka A enjoyed a productive first day to their tour, running through MCC for 167 at Arundel before building a steady first innings around Mahela Udawatte's 57. The wickets were shared around by the Sri Lankans with Ishara Amerasinghe and Rangana Herath taking three apiece.

MCC consists of university players and a few, more established first-class cricketers. Craig McMillan, the New Zealand batsman, is the captain but he fell to Herath for 2 as they slipped from a promising 66 for 1 to 96 for 4. The top score came from Mohammad Nabi (43), the 22-year-old Afghanistan batsman, who is on the MCC's Young Cricketers programme.

Udawatte and Dilruwan Perera made a positive start for the Sri Lankans as they added 64 for the first wicket. MCC fought back before the close with three wickets, but the Sri Lankans are well placed to take a handsome lead with the Test pair of Tilan Samaraweera and Jehan Mubarak at the crease.