The Indian tour to Sri Lanka started on a bland note with the first and only practice match ending up in a draw. The three day match between India and Sri Lanka Board XI held at Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo was affected by rain and bad weather conditions.

The Indian Team was looking forward to this match to get a break from the strenuous three-month schedule of T-20 and ODIs. The match not only served as the perfect opportunity to get into the test match mode before the three-match test series with Sri Lanka starts on 23 July but also a chance to the wounded tigers to revv up their engines. The biggies like Sachin Tendulkar (groin injury), Zaheer Khan (ankle injury), Harbhajan Singh (disciplinary ban) and VVS Laxman (wrist fracture) had the golden chance to prove their fitness and mettle for the tough competition ahead.

The first day was in the name of the Indian bowlers. The Sri Lankans were shown the pavilion for mere 224 for all. Thilina Kandamby (84) and Chamara Silva (68) were the saving grace for the hosts in the rain-truncated first day. Anil Kumble clinched 3 for 30 and got able support from Zaheer (2-55) and Harbhajan (2-52). The second day play started after lunch because of rain and the master blaster Tendulkar shone through the game with his crackling 69 with Dinesh Karthik contributing 58* to the total. India declared their innings at 196-8 to add some excitement to the otherwise dull and rain-wasted game.

The Sri Lanka Board XI team however was intent on drawing the match. The third day play had SL Board XI batting to pile up a score of 247-6 in 55 overs. Chamara Silva’s 59* and Dammika Prasad’s 43 off 53 made the end of the match as a stalemate obvious. Sehwag failed to score again in the second Indian innings. Gautam Gambhir’s quick 60 with useful 20’s from Dravid (26) and Ganguly (22) steered India to 129-2 and ended the match in a damp draw.

To conclude, the match showed some promising performances and impressive comebacks from the Indian side for the upcoming test series. It is expected that rain will play a spoilsport in the matches to come.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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