Cricket: Sri Lanka bat out draw against NZ A

Sri Lanka A flexed their batting muscles on the final day of the four-day first-class match against New Zealand A at Pallekele.

Having started the final day at 135 for three, leading overall by 88, the Sri Lankans batted through the last day before declaring at 498 for seven.

There were centuries to three batsmen -- to go with one in the first innings -- as the Sri Lankans rattled along at 5.59 runs an over.

New Zealand A used nine bowlers in the search for wickets.

Doug Bracewell was the most successful, but his 102 runs conceded came from just 16 overs.

Legspinner Ish Sodhi took a worrying none for 119 off 16, as he prepares to join the New Zealand test team in Bangladesh while fellow test tourist Mark Gillespie took none for 73 off 11 overs.

The second four-dayer starts in Dambulla on Monday.

Scores:
Sri Lanka A 252 and 498-7 dec (K. Perera 147, A. Priyanjan 103, C. de Silva 103; D. Bracewell 3-102, D. Mitchell 1-30, C. Cachopa 1-44, A. Milne 1-37,T. Astle 1-52) drew with New Zealand A 299-9 dec