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.
