Rain frustration for Sri Lanka u19s

STATE OF PLAY: Poverty Bay/Northern Districts bowler Tommy Clout in action against Sri Lanka’s under-19 team at Harry Barker Reserve yesterday. Pictures by Paul Rickard

THE Sri Lankan under-19 cricket team and their officials were hoping for better weather today after rain interupted their scheduled 50-overs match yesterday at Harry Barker Reserve.

The tourists, playing a Poverty Bay/Northern Districts selection, are in Gisborne preparing for the under-19 world cup that starts in Whangarei in two weeks.

The first of two warm-up games in Gisborne was washed out without a ball being bowled on Thursday.

Yesterday’s match, which was reduced to 35 overs, was abandoned after 14.2 overs with Sri Lanka on 72-2.

Nipun Dhananjaya was 31 not out and Kishan Sanjula was unbeaten on 24.

Sri Lanka were in early trouble on a juicy pitch. Tom Clout, a former Poverty Bay draft player, had Pad Lakshan caught at first slip by Anish Desai for 0.

Hasitha Boyagoda became Boyd’s second victim with the score at 2-12 after three overs.

From the other end, Cameron Rowell (0-20 off four overs) caused Sri Lanka all sorts of problems, with the ball taking off on a good length from the Gladstone Road end.

Poverty Bay development oficer David McDonald said “the past few days have been a battle setting up for matches, a battle getting the teams on the park with on-off conditions.

“We just get the facility ready to play and down comes the rain again. It has been very frustrating for all the Poverty Bay Cricket Association helpers, who have been outstanding in trying to get the games under way.

“The teams have been understanding and assisting. District manager Mel Knight has done great job in making the local crew do as much as they can to ensure the visitors are well looked after operationally in extremely challenging conditions.”

The second game was scheduled to start at 10.30 today.