An impressive century by Ben Slater was the highlight for Derbyshire, but it wasn’t enough for the home side to secure victory over Sri Lanka A at The 3aaa County Ground on Friday evening.
Slater’s century – in addition to 44 by fellow Derbyshire-born batsman Tom Wood – helped Derbyshire post 281-7 their 43 overs, after rain had delayed the start to the match.
In reply, Sri Lanka A made light work of their target with openers Niroshan Dickwella and Dhananjaya de Silva scoring quick-fire innings worth 67 and 119 apiece as the visitors reached their target inside 33 overs with seven wickets to spare.
Slater and skipper Wes Durston got their side off to a fantastic start by adding 67 for the first wicket, including a half-century stand in only six overs until the former was first man out for 32.
Then came a spell of bowling for Sri Lankan Dilanka Sandakan which saw him take five wickets for the visiting team starting with Alex Hughes (15) who had come in for Durston.
Charlie Macdonell, making his first-team debut, put on 19 to take Derbyshire to 141-3 when he was dismissed for Sandakan’s second.
Also making his debut for the Club was Derbyshire-born Tom Wood who played a number of impressive shots on his way to scoring 44 during a 87-run stand with Slater.
Before Wood was Sandakan’s third victim, Slater got through to his second List A century, his second in as many completed fixtures, having faced 105 balls.
Matt Critchley (1) and Slater were both then accounted for within 11 balls as Sandakan claimed 5-40 before Rob Hemmings added 25 not out from just 13 deliveries to help boost the hosts’ score up to 281-7.
In pursuit of 282 to win in 43 overs, the touring Sri Lankans made an extraordinary start, with Dananjaya de Silva and Niroshan Dickwella securing a century opening partnership in just 10 overs.
The pair continued to lay siege to the Derbyshire attack, before Dickwella was stumped by Harvey Hosein off the bowling of Durston (1-37). The Sri Lankan had faced 47 balls and scored 67.
The loss of his long-term partner, with whom he shared a 161-run stand, did not faze de Silva who also scored heavily leading to his century from just 70 balls.
He would, however, fall on 119 when he attempted a ramp to the bowling of Ben Cotton (1-50), caught down at fine-leg by Hughes.
Sri Lanka A would lose just one more wicket en route to victory, Greg Cork taking Mahela Udawatte (22) lbw, leaving Rajapaksa (48 not out) and Priyanjan (9 not out) to lead the visitors to 284-3 and seven wicket win.
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