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A blunt Indian bowling attack stood exposed as Sri Lanka Board President's XI scored a mammoth 432 for five on the opening day of the three-day warm up game on Tuesday. Sri Lankan top order treated the Indian attack disdainfully with opener Upul Tharanga (116), Thilina Kandamby (101) and Thilan Samaraweera (102) smashing centuries. Dinesh Chandimal (5) and Kuashjal Silva (6) were at the crease for Board President's XI when stumps were drawn at the Colts Cricket Club Ground.
The hosts scored at a furious pace, with a run-rate close to five, as more than half of the runs came through boundaries. None of the six bowlers used by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni could bowl economically let alone trouble the rival batsmen. Pragyan Ojha (3/133) and Amit Mishra (2/120) shared five wickets between them, but together gave away 253 runs in 50 overs they bowled. Ishant Sharma and Abhimnayu Mithun went wicketless and it was not before the 35th over of the innings that India got its first success.
Ojha dismissed left-handed Tharanga but by that time he had raised a solid opening partnership of 188 runs with Lahiru Thirimanne (66) as BP XImade a bright start after winning the toss. The Hyderabad left-arm spinner struck for the second time after four overs when he scalped Thirimanne but there was hardly a moment to rejoice after that for the Indians with Kandamby and Samaraweera raising a huge 180-run stand for the third wicket.
India struck towards the end with Mishra removing Kandamby and Ojha sending back Samaraweera but by that time BP XI had completely overwhelmed the Indians.
Brief scores: Board President's XI 432 for 5 in 88.4 overs (U Tharanga 110, L Thirimanne 66, T Kandamby 101, T Samaraweera 102, P Ojha 3/133)
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