Cricket: Sri Lankans make most of a full day's batting

DUNEDIN - He might have a name straight out of the English public school system, but Ian Gerald Daniel is a batsman direct from the Sri Lankan school of wizardry.

His 94 highlighted the opening day of the three-day match between Sri Lanka A and Otago at Molyneux Park in Alexandra yesterday.

Seeking practice and time to adjust to New Zealand conditions before the first "test" against New Zealand A in Queenstown on Thursday, the Sri Lankans made the most of a full day's batting.

The tourists reached 308 for six, and none were more impressive than Daniel, a compact right-hander with a fondness for any ball delivered short and away from his body.

He patiently awaited his chance to profit from loose deliveries in the morning session, after lunch moving to his half-century with a cracking four through the covers off Warren McSkimming.

Jehan Mubarak looked a classy left-hander, reaching 42 before being run out. Mubarak and Daniel's 100 partnership took 111 minutes and 171 balls before Mubarak departed in the most unfortunate of circumstances, run out backing up at the bowler's end, McSkimming getting a touch on Daniel's straight drive.

Daniel's century seemed assured when in a rare moment of hesitation he chipped Bradley Scott to wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins.

Captain Naveed Nawaz looked in nice touch until he reached 28 and clipped what originally appeared to be a bump ball to Chris Gaffaney at short mid wicket.

Pugnacious left-hander Thilina Kandamby belted 64 off 85 balls, including eight fours and one six, before he thrashed at Nathan McCullum and was caught by Craig Cumming at mid on.

McCullum then removed wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene for a duck before Otago took the new ball.

Bathiy Perera is to resume today on 43.

- NZPA