da brwin： Opening batsman Marvan Atapattu eased himself into form as Sri Lanka’spreparations for the first Test at Lords starting May 15 continued against aBritish Universities XI at Wantage Road on Thursday
CricInfo03-May-2002Opening batsman Marvan Atapattu eased himself into form as Sri Lanka’spreparations for the first Test at Lords starting May 15 continued against aBritish Universities XI at Wantage Road on Thursday.Atapattu, who is expected to be a key figure during the three-match Testseries against England, scored 100 from 180 deliveries as Sri Lanka finishedthe first day of three on 318 for seven.With their one-day game against a Paul Getty’s XI washed out earlier in theweek, Sri Lanka would have been delighted to be back playing, continuingtheir adjustment to local conditions, even if the students represented aless than intimidating opposition.Sanath Jayasuriya – unusually restrained before he clipped a half volley topoint – missed out for the second game in succession, as did number threeKumar Sangakkara, whilst Hashan Tillakaratne, on his first outing, wascaught behind cutting before he got into his stride.Aravinda de Silva, however, once again showed good touch, opening hisinnings with a signature swivel pull for six, before attacking left-armspinner Rob Ferley and cruising to 57 from 52 balls, when he was bowledaround his legs attempting the most delicate of sweeps.Atapattu took longer to get into his stride, carefully constructing hisfirst fifty off 111 balls and showing good judgment outside his off-stump.Thereafter the runs started to flow more easily with his elegant coverdriving catching the eye.Later in the day, Russel Arnold chipped in with 43 off 64 balls andall-rounder Thilan Samaraweera made 21 from 52 balls.In the morning, Sri Lanka had picked Chaminda Vaas, Sri Lanka’s premier fastbowler, and Eric Upashantha for their first games of the tour in place ofleft-armers Ruchira Perera and Nuwan Zoysa.