Chamika Karunaratne took a wicket in his first over of Test cricket against Australia. [Andy Brooks]
Chamika Karunaratne, who played Southern Premier League cricket for Andover in 2017, took a wicket in his first over on his Test debut for Sri Lanka against Australia in Canberra this weekend.
Queensland’s Marnus Labuschagne, who made 81 in the first Test, was undone by an excellent ball from Karunaratne that nibbled and nipped off the seam just enough to catch the edge.
But that was as good as it got for Karunaratne and Sri Lanka who, whittled bare to the bone by injuries, suffered a torrid first day in the field, dropping catches as a triple century partnership between Joe Burns (180) and Ventnor’s 2013 overseas left-hander Travis Head, with a maiden 161, powered Australia towards an eventual 534-5 and a massive 366-run victory.
Karunaratne, who scored 450 runs and took 16 wickets for Andover two summers ago, went for 130 of his 22 overs and made up for a first innings duck by making 22 in Sri Lanka’s second dig. He had been playing for Sri Lanka A and club cricket for Nondescripts before his surprise call-up to join the beleaguered Test party.
His solitary wicket, a catch to keeper Niroshan Dickwella, had a bizarre twist. His victim, Marnus Labuschagne, was an overseas player for Plymouth during Matt Hooper’s time with the West Country club, so the Andover skipper has actually captained both players at one stage of their career!
Queensland’s Marnus Labuschagne, who made 81 in the first Test, was undone by an excellent ball from Karunaratne that nibbled and nipped off the seam just enough to catch the edge.
But that was as good as it got for Karunaratne and Sri Lanka who, whittled bare to the bone by injuries, suffered a torrid first day in the field, dropping catches as a triple century partnership between Joe Burns (180) and Ventnor’s 2013 overseas left-hander Travis Head, with a maiden 161, powered Australia towards an eventual 534-5 and a massive 366-run victory.
Karunaratne, who scored 450 runs and took 16 wickets for Andover two summers ago, went for 130 of his 22 overs and made up for a first innings duck by making 22 in Sri Lanka’s second dig. He had been playing for Sri Lanka A and club cricket for Nondescripts before his surprise call-up to join the beleaguered Test party.
His solitary wicket, a catch to keeper Niroshan Dickwella, had a bizarre twist. His victim, Marnus Labuschagne, was an overseas player for Plymouth during Matt Hooper’s time with the West Country club, so the Andover skipper has actually captained both players at one stage of their career!
