Ganga misses out on century

Ganga hit the top score of 99 and added 102 for the second wicket with Marshall, who scored 82, that laid the platform for the West Indies "A" first innings total of 295.

When stumps were drawn on the opening day, Sri Lanka "A" were in a bit of strife on 68 for three with all but Tino Best of the four bowlers that Ganga used each claiming a wicket.

Jermaine Lawson, making a comeback after injury and questions over his action, made the breakthrough when he had Test batsman Michael Vandort caught close to the wicket for three.

Another Test batsman Avishka Gunawardene flayed Lawson and Best, in particular, to race to 34 from 31 balls that included seven boundaries before he offered a return catch to Dwight Washington.

In the final over of the day, unorthodox left-arm spin bowler Dave Mohammed had Test batsman Jehan Mubarak caught behind for 17 to leave the hosts pondering their next move.

Earlier, the visitors profitted from an opening stand of 48 between Marshall and Ryan Ramdass before he was leg before wicket for 22.

Ganga came to the wicket and batted through lunch with Marshall, who looked in fine form with 10 fours and three sixes adorning his 107-ball knock before he became the first of six wickets for Sajeeva Weerakoon.

Ganga continued to keep his 15th First-Class hundred in mind and added 78 for the third wicket with Marlon Samuels, but he became Weerakoon’s second wicket and triggered a batting collapse that saw eight wickets fall for 67 runs in the space of 13.4 overs.

Carlton Baugh, Jr., scored 28, Best made 23, and Samuels with 20 were the only other West Indians to get into double figures.

The two teams play three unofficial "Test" and five unofficial limited-overs "internationals" as a forerunner to a senior international series between the two nations.

The senior West Indies side, likely to be captained by Shivnarine Chanderpaul, are expected in Colombo on July 6 for a series of two Tests against the Sri Lankans, and a three-nation limited-overs series with the hosts and India.

This however, depends on a settlement to the contracts dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players’ Association.