AP, Queenstown :
Captain Angelo Mathews made an unbeaten half century as Sri Lanka prepared for the first cricket Test against New Zealand with a draw Sunday in a three-day match against a President’s XI.
Mathews made 54 not out, opener Udara Jayasundera made 63 and Kithuruwan Vithanage hit 61 as Sri Lanka reached 226-6 in its second innings at the Queenstown Events Centre after trailing by 206 runs after the first innings.
The President’s XI reached 399-8 in its first innings in reply to Sri Lanka’s 193, helped by Shawn Hicks’ unbeaten 79 and Tim Johnston’s 72 batting at No.9. Dushmantha Chameera finished with 4-57.
Sri Lanka batted the remainder of the day with the help of three half centuries, including Mathews’ from 87 balls. The first Test starts Thursday at Dunedin.
