Arnold leads Lanka to second straight win

Russel Arnold remained unconquered with a magestic knock of 100 as Sri Lanka 'A' gave another demonstration of their batting might to prevail over Pakistan by five wickets and earn their second successive victory in the Kenstar Asian 'A' teams cricket tournament in Kolkata on Tuesday.

It was almost a replay of yesterday's match at the Eden Gardens. Like India 'A', Pakistan batting first piled up a rosperous total of 300 in 49.5 overs, setting the Lankans an asking rate of 6.02 runs per over.

But the men from Emerald Isle, with their captain leading from the front, made the difficult task look easy. Nuan Zoysa scoring the winning runs by despatching Mansoor Amjad to the long off fence with five balls still remaining in their allotted 50 overs.

Arnold, who remained unbeaten on 96 during his side's seven-wicket triumph over India, did not miss the magic mark today and completed his ton in style in the 49th over. He first moved from 93 to 99 with a six over square leg of Rauf Khan and then took a single of the very next ball to reach the three-figure mark, to the applause of a handful of spectators at the giant stadium.

He faced 105 balls and struck 12 fours and two sixes during his stay at the middle.

Earlier, Sri Lanka lost opener S Jayantha (14) cheaply, before S Kalavitigoda (74; 96 b 11x4, 1x6) to the Lankan chase back of rails.

Scoreboard:

Pakistan 'A'
I Nazir c Jayawardene b Zoysa           11
S Afridi b Herath                                63
S Butt lbw b Lakshita                          29
M Hafeez st Jayawardene b Herath    28
F Iqbal c Jayantha b Kulasekara         50
N Latif c Kalavitigoda b Arnold          17
B Asad not out                                   52
A Rehman st Jayawardene b Herath     4
Junaid Zia c Arnold b Kulasekara         4
M Amjad run out                                 7
A Rouf Khan b Lakshita                      7

Extras (b-2, lb-4, nb-14, w-8)    28

Total (all out, 49.5 overs)      300

Fall of wickets: 1/40, 2/113, 3/119, 4/180,  5/217, 6/230, 7/236. 8/243, 9/272.  

Bowling: Zoysa 10-0-62-1, Lakshita 9.5-1-68-2, Kulasekara 10-0-65-2, Herath 10-1-52-3, Jayantha 7-0-33-0, C Silva 1-0-9-0, Arnold 2-0-5-1.

Sri Lanka 'A'
F Kalavitigoda b Afridi                 74
S Jayantha b Zia                          14
J Mubarak c Rahman b Hafeez    42
R Arnold not out                        100
N Nawaz c Nazir b Hafeez           24
C Silva b Afridi                             11
N Zoysa not out                            6

Extras (lb-14, nb-1, w-18)             33

Total (for five wickets in 49.1 overs)   304

Fall of wickets: 1/32, 2/109, 3/190, 4/252, 5/286.

Bowling: Rouf Khan 9-0-67-0, Zia 5-0-24-1, Afridi 10-0-56-2, Hafeez 10-0-46-2, Asad 6-0-32-0, Amjad 7.1-0-47-0, Butt 2-0-18-0.