Sri Lanka A take honours on first day

Sri Lanka A 178 for 3 (Daniel 55, Mubarak 60*) lead Glamorgan 169 (Elliot 48, Suraj 5-40) by nine runs at Swansea
Scorecard

Glamorgan were back in whites for the first time in almost a month yesterday, as they faced Sri Lanka A on day one of a four-day match at Swansea. A strong Sri Lankan team, which has won seven of its nine matches on this tour and drew with West Indies over the weekend, took the upper hand on the first day, bowling Glamorgan out for 169 and ending the day nine runs ahead with seven wickets in hand after half-centuries from Ian Daniel and Jehan Mubarak.

Glamorgan won the toss and opted to bat first, but got off to a less than ideal start when Mark Wallace fell to Nuwan Kulasekara for 11 (26 for 1). Kulasekara struck again when David Hemp was caught by Bathiya Perera for 10 (44 for 2), and David Hemp fell soon after, bowled by Ranga Dias for 3. After a rain-affected first session Glamorgan went to lunch at 51 for 3, but a 60-run partnership between Matthew Elliot and Jonathan Hughes raised their hopes in the afternoon.

However, the introduction of spin into the attack in the form of Mohammad Suraj sparked a dramatic collapse, as Glamorgan lost their last seven wickets for only 58 runs in 21 overs. The first to go was Matthew Elliot, bowled by Suraj for 48 to break his promising partnership with Hughes (111 for 4). Suraj picked up 5 for 40 with his offspinners, also dismissing Ian Thomas and Hughes before Perera chipped in with the wickets of Robert Croft and David Harrison to leave Glamorgan on the brink at 162 for 8. Suraj wrapped up the innings soon afterwards, with Darren Thomas caught by Daniel for 16 and Andrew Davies trapped lbw for one.

Harrison, who has not played since the end of June after being sidelined by injury, opened the bowling and struck with his fourth ball to have Shantha Kalavitigoda caught at slip for a duck as Glamorgan threatened a fight-back. Sri Lanka A were 52 for 2 when Harrison had Malintha Gajanayake caught behind for 19, but Daniel and Mubarak carried them out of trouble with a 57-run partnership. Daniel went to his half-century from 66 balls, but was out soon after, lofting Dean Cosker straight to Harrison at long off (109 for 3).

Mubarak brought up his own 50 with a six off Cosker, and had added an unbeaten 69 in partnership with Perera (43*) to put Sri Lanka A firmly in control at stumps.