• Sri Lanka Board XI 392-9 dec: England 365-7. Match drawn
These contests – to use a euphemism for the cricket on show at the Nondescripts ground – are always messy, disjointed affairs and that was most certainly the case on Wednesday. With each side playing a minimum of 14 players there is no meaningful outcome to a match that is denied any status. So Joe Root did not hit his 24th first-class century here even though he effortlessly reached three figures.
Just before tea the tepid nature of the cricket was utterly overshadowed by concern for the 20-year-old Pathum Nissanka, a young batsman from Galle. Nissanka was fielding at forward short leg when Jos Buttler pulled a long hop from off-spinner, Nishan Peiris. From the meat of the bat the ball thudded into the helmet of Nissanka, who fell to the ground.
Written by Vic Marks in Colombo
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/oct/31/jos-buttler-england-sri-lanka-hospital-fielder under the title “Jos Buttler ‘feared the worst’ after Sri Lankan fielder hit on head by ball”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
