Sri Lanka settle for draw

[[JUGRAJ SINGH]]

Sri Lanka had to settle for a draw in a rain-affected match against Northamptonshire as the tourists put the finishing touches to their preparations ahead of the first Test against England on Thursday.

Any possibility of a definitive result was all but washed out with the rain on Saturday when not a single ball was bowled meaning Northants resumed play on the final day on 146 for five.

Rob Keogh hit an impressive 120 before the home side were bowled out for 345 and while there was still time for Sri Lanka to reach 99 for four in their second innings, a draw was agreed with 17 overs left to play.

The hosts trailed by 412 runs after Sri Lanka had declared on 558 for eight on day two.

The 22-year-old Keogh and Matthew Spriegel put together a valuable 86-run partnership to guide Northants from 113 for five to 199.

One run short of 200 however, Spriegel was caught by Dilruwan Perera for 27 and the hosts were only able to add five more runs before the incoming Steven Crook (five) nicked Dhammika Prasad into the hands of Prasanna Jayawardene.

At 204 four for seven, Sri Lanka had their opponents on the ropes but David Willey stemmed the tide alongside the ever-present Keogh.

The determined pair added 75 more runs, of which Willey hit an expansive 48 before rushing down the wicket and being stumped by Prasanna Jayawardene off Perera (four for 92).

Perera struck again just three balls later as Graeme White was caught by Nuwan Pradeep for two.

There was some late resilience from number ten Chad Barrett, who was left unbeaten on 20 when Keogh was finally dislodged, caught by Prasanna Jayawardene off Prasad (four for 68).

Pradeep (one for 73) and Chanaka Welegedara (one for 95) had earlier taken the other wickets as Sri Lanka returned to the crease with a 213-run lead.

Dinesh Chandimal fell early for eight, caught by Kyle Coetzer off Willey (one for 23) before Dimuth Karunaratne and Kumar Sangakkara settled in.

Karunaratne made 38 before being bowled by Spriegel (one for 10) and Kumar Sangakkara hit 45 before being caught by Barrett at long on off the bowling of White (two for 28).

Mahela Jayawardene was also stumped for a duck as both captains shook hands shortly after 5pm with Prasanna Jayawardene four not out and Perera yet to get off the mark.