Kenya’s cricketers conjured up their best performance of a previouslydisappointing tour on Thursday, as the picturesque Rangiri DambullaInternational Stadium welcomed back international cricket after aseven-month ownership dispute

CricInfo14-Feb-2002Kenya’s cricketers conjured up their best performance of a previouslydisappointing tour on Thursday, as the picturesque Rangiri DambullaInternational Stadium welcomed back international cricket after aseven-month ownership dispute.The visitor’s bowlers dominated the first day of the final unofficial Test,as Sri Lanka A, looking to complete a series whitewash, were bowled out forjust 262.Their failure was unexpected after their dominance in the first two Testswhen they had rattled up scores of 414 and 574 against a distinctlyunthreatening bowling attack.One explanation for their surprise failure was that they their concentrationhad been distracted by the stunning views from one of the most scenic venuesin the world.The stadium, raised from a dry land scrub in just 155 days, which hosted it’s inaugural match last year against England, is touted as being the firsteco-friendly cricket venue in the world.Situated adjacent to a the glistening Ibbankatuwa Wewa reservoir, the mainstand looks north to the Bulagala mountain and east to Dambulla’s famouscave temples. When finished, the concrete walls are to camouflaged by greenvines.But whilst Sri Lanka A’s batsman may have struggle to focus in such a laidback environment, Kenya’s seemed to be inspired. Despite the early lossKennedy Otieno, the visitors cruised to 69 for one.The broad shouldered and skillful Steve Tikolo was once again thecornerstone of the Kenyan reply, as he thumped seven fours, racing to 36from 40 balls. He was well supported by Ravindu Shah who finished the day on24 not out.Whilst Kenya may wrestled the initiative by the close, Sri Lanka A haddominated the early part of the day.Scoring at five runs per over, Avishka Gunawardene and Michael Vandort soonrecovered from the loss of opener Upeka Fernando in the third over, adding105 for the second wicket.Gunawardene strutted with characteristic belligerence, lacing 12 boundariesacross a giant playing area, as he raced to 70 from 92 balls. Vandort playeda steadying hand with a stylish 55 from 110 balls.The introduction of Kenya’s spinners, off-spinner Tikolo and leg-spinnerCollins Obuya, slowly altered the tempo of the innings. Gradually the pairreined in the Sri Lankan pair.Shortly after lunch, Gunwardene was bowled through the gate by a leg break,the first of four wickets for Obuya’s energetic wrist spin.Midway through the afternoon two wickets fell in the space of five balls:Vandort clipped a return catch to Tikolo and Tillakaratne Dilshan wasscooped up at mid off after mistiming a drive (143 for four).When Upul Chandana, scorer of 194 at Matara, was trapped lbw after missingan off-break a few minutes later, Kenya took the upperhand for the firsttime in the series.Prassana Jayawardene (46 not out from 81 balls) and Chamara Silva (41 from53 balls) held up the tourists with an entertaining six-wicket stand thatwas only ended by the bizarre run out of Silva.Silva first edged low slip. Shah grasped the ball left-handed but thenbungled his celebration and the umpire ruled he did not have sufficientcontrol over the ball.Next over, Silva wandered out of his crease after playing the ball. Shah,still standing at slip, quickly noticed his lost bearings and threw down thestumps (208 for six).Rangana Herath supported Jayawardene well for the next 50 minutes, adding afurther 44 to the score, before being run out whilst pushing for a secondrun.The innings soon closed with Pulasthi Gunaratne being caught behind andRuchira Perera squirting a short ball straight to cover.Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka A had dropped opener Ian Daniel and fastbowler Prabath Nissanka in favour of Gunwardene, returning from illness, and28-year-old fast bowler Gunaratne.Kenya made three changes, replacing Thomas Odoyo (hamstring injury),Mohammad Sheikh (finger) and Otieno Suji with fast bowler Joseph Angara andall-rounders Brijal Patel, and David Obuya.