Lahiru Thirimanne’s career-best 156 helped Sri Lanka pile on the runs against Northamptonshire on Friday.
Sri Lanka, at lunch on the second day of four at Northampton, were 485 for five in their final match before next week’s first Test against England at Lord’s.
Sri Lanka were 358 for three overnight. But before play resumed on Friday, opener Kaushal Silva retired on 152 not out with what the Sri Lanka tour manager said was a stomach illness.
Silva batted for just over six hours, facing 260 balls with 21 fours and two sixes. Together with Thirimanne, captain in the absence of the rested Angelo Mathews, he’d put on 238 for the fourth wicket.
Left-hander Thirimanne resumed on 120 not out, having been dropped first ball Thursday off a regulation chance by wicketkeeper Ben Duckett.
Thirimanne batted for nearly five hours facing 221 balls including 14 fours and two sixes. Spriegel then had a personal return of two wickets for no runs in eight balls, as Sri Lanka’s 441 for four became 442 for five, when he bowled Dinesh Chandimal on the sweep for 47.
But Dilruwan Perera, primarily a slow bowler, launched expensive left-arm spinner Graeme White (none for 129) for two sixes.
