Resolute SLC Development XI hold on for draw

Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI 257 for 6 (Nawela 64*, Paranavitana 51, Udawatte 47, Oram 3-32) and 159 (Chandimal 64) drew with New Zealanders 493 (Vettori 106, Lakshitha 4-96, Mendis 4-91)
Scorecard

Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI held on for a draw as the New Zealanders failed to break through a determined batting performance from the hosts on the third and final day of the tour game in Colombo.

Resuming on 437 for 7, the New Zealanders were bowled out for 493 with captain Daniel Vettori reaching his hundred in the company of Jeetan Patel. Patel hit two fours and two sixes during his 46-ball 39 to extend the first innings lead to 334.

With no chance of victory, SLC Development XI were content in blocking out the New Zealand bowlers. Openers Tharanga Paranavitana and Mahela Udawatte began with a resolute partnership of 74, before Udawatte was dismissed by Jacob Oram for 47. Dinesh Chandimal, who scored a fifty in the first innings, failed in the second to leave the hosts on 85 for 2. Three more wickets fell to reduce the hosts to 157 for 5, but Nadeera Nawela scored an unbeaten 64 off 131 balls to deny the tourists the win.

Nawela was well supported by lower order batsmen Sachith Pathirana and Sachithra Senanayake, and an unbroken sixth wicket partnership of 57 between Senanayake and Nawela ensured the home team batted through 75 overs to come away with a well earned draw.

New Zealand play another warm up game on August 12 before the first Test beginning on August 18 in Galle.