Samson hits ton on Day 2, match end in a draw

kolkata, November 13
Skipper Sanju Samson stood out with a sublime 128 to lead Board President’s XI fightback against Sri Lanka as their two-day tour match ended in a draw.
In reply to Sri Lanka’s 411/9 decl., Board President’s XI were struggling at 31/2 after lunch on the second day but Samson helped his side reach 287/5 after 75 overs to close out the match.
Samson hit 19 fours and one six during his 143-ball knock. Samson anchored the innings with three useful partnerships of 68, 71 and 85 runs with Jiwanjot Singh (35), Rohan Prem (39) and Bavanaka Sandeep (33), respectively.
On a track that offered little help to the bowlers, Sri Lanka ended up using 10 bowlers, including regular wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella, who bowled the last over of the match. All-rounder Angelo Mathews, who is recovering from a calf injury, did not bowl. Lahiru Gamage (2/41) dismissed Tanmay Agarwal (16) and Anmolpreet Singh (3) in successive overs to give the visitors’ a promising start before Samson completed his fifty in 63 balls.
Samson completed his century in 123 balls, driving off-spinner Dhananjaya de Silva through the cover for two runs. He fell when he tried to play an upper-cut on a bouncer by Vishwa Fernando but the ball kissed his bat before falling into the safe hands of Sadeera Samarawickrama.
Earlier, BPXI’s openers Tanmay Agarwal and Jiwanjot Singh started the proceedings on a watchful note. It took the Lankans eight overs to get the first breakthrough as Gamage struck in successive overs to dismiss Agarwal (16) and Anmolpreet Singh (3).
Fresh from his impressive 267 and 113 in the last two Ranji outings, Punjab youngster Anmolpreet got out in Gamage’s next over off a stunning catch at point from Danus Shanaka.
Sri Lanka brought in Rangana Herath in the 15th over but the experienced spinner got little help from the wicket. Samson and Jiwanjot went about their tasks, cutting and playing the sweep shot against the 39-year-old as they remained together till lunch with 89/2 on board.
It was in the fourth over after lunch when off-spinner Perera dismissed Jiwanjot but Samson stood firm.
Brief Scores: Board President’s XI: 287/5 (Samson 128, Prem 39; Thirimanne 2/22); Sri Lankans: 411/9 decl. (Samarawickrama 74, Mathews 54, Karunaratne 50).