Hamstring blow for Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara
Herald Sun
October 27, 2007 12:00am

SRI Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya clouted 154 to put the Cricket Australia Chairman's XI in their place, but his contribution was soured by a hamstring injury to Kumar Sangakkara on day one of the three-day tour match at Adelaide Oval.

The visitors went to stumps at 4-335 after Jayasuriya (153 balls, 16 fours, six sixes) and Marvan Atapattu (56) added a vibrant 195 for the first wicket against some average bowling.

They will be only mildly irritated by the news that the match has been deemed beneath first-class standard by CA officials.

More vexing is the loss of high class batsman Sangakkara, who called for strapping to his left hamstring and then retired hurt for one, creating some concern for the tourists ahead of the first Test in Brisbane from November 8-12.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene (0) looked distracted by the injury and popped a return catch to left-arm spinner Aaron Heal (3-50), who was by far the most productive local bowler.

Composed of players unwanted for the concurrent round of Pura Cup and one-day matches, the Chairman's XI had been unable to train together before the start of the game and for the most part looked very much a team of leftovers.

Jayasuriya began slowly, nudging runs here and there, but after a while he developed a taste for the military medium seamers of Paul Rofe (0-82) and wrist spinner Cullen Bailey (0-100), who was at one point dispatched for three legside sixes in as many deliveries.

Michael Vandort (55) and Thilan Samaraweera (53 not out) also passed 50 before the end of play, which reached 86.1 of the scheduled 90 overs despite bad light and rain.

AAP