Preparations for Sri Lanka’s T20 series commenced with a warm up match at the Kent County Ground at Beckenham.

Whilst it was unusual for a game with this objective to be played in mid-September, there was nothing surprising in it being weather affected.

Both teams consisted of thirteen players of whom eleven could bat. James Coles won the toss for the Lions and invited the visitors to bat first, fifteen minutes after the scheduled start time due to earlier rain, and with further precipitation expected.

Pathum Nissanka took first strike and started like a runaway train, being particularly harsh on Luke Wood. Having conceded ten of his first over, Wood started his second over with a no ball that Nissanka edged over wicketkeeper Moores for four, before the free hit was launched into the leg-side for six, scattering the crowd in front of the huge building that houses the office, refreshments, and cricket school.

In the fourth over there was a delay when Nissanka changed his gloves. Next ball, he attempted to launch a Saqib Mahmood delivery out of the ground but hit it too high and when Mason Crane took it well, he was out for 23 from 16 balls. Fellow opener and wicketkeeper, Kamil Mishara also got in on the act and when the six over power-play ended, the tourists were well placed for a big score at 70 for 1.

Coles then brought on Crane and he tempted Mishra into holing out for 31 from 18 balls, which included two sixes and four fours. Coles came on at the other end and the two spinners slowed down the run rate. Charith Asalanka tried to anchor the innings but wickets tumbled at the other end with Tom Hartley also getting in on the act. Asalanka was seventh out for 23 from 22 balls and only Tharindu Ratnayake’s late 22 from 12 balls took the tourists to 156 for 9 from their allocated overs.  

Bowling honours went to Crane who took 2 for 20 from four overs, Coles, 4 for 22 from four, and Hartley 2 for 27 off three. Mahmood and Henry Crocombe took one wicket apiece.

Heavy rain started to fall while the final over was bowled and continued to do so, delaying the restart. When it stopped and the covers were removed, the Lions were set a revised target of 108 from 12 overs, with a power-play consisting of three overs and four balls.

Dilshan Madushanka took the new ball and had a nightmare start when his first ball was so wide that even Mishara couldn’t reach it and it flew to the boundary. His next delivery was also called as a wide so the Lions had six runs on the board before a legal delivery had been bowled. Although only two more runs were scored off the rest of the over, Paul Walter and Ben McKinney soon started to enjoy themselves and the score was on 43 for 0 at the end of the power-play. Two balls later, rain again drove the players off at 46 for 0.

When the rain stopped, the players returned with the target again adjusted to 73 off 8 overs meaning that the hosts required 27 more from 4 overs. Although McKinney lobbed a catch up to Eshan Malinga off Maheesh Theekshana for 19 from 12 deliveries, Ben Mayes joined Walter to see the Lions home by nine wickets with ten balls to spare. Walter ended the proceedings with a massive six to finish on 34 from 20 while Mayes was unbeaten on 10 from seven balls. 

Considering the weather conditions, the umpires and both teams deserve great credit for seeing the match through to its conclusion.