CANBERRA: Scott Henry blasted an unbeaten 172 and Glenn Maxwell cracked 91 as a Chairman’s XI gave the touring Sri Lankans a tough initiation to their Australian tour in Canberra yesterday.
The invitational side amassed 390 for four off 90 overs to subject the Sri Lankans to a dispiriting hot day in the field chasing the ball. In Sri Lanka’s only lead-up match to next week’s first of three Tests against Australia in Hobart there was little joy for a lame bowling attack.
With star spinner Rangana Herath, leading pace bowler Nuwan Kulasekara and vice-captain Angelo Mathews rested, Sri Lanka’s bowlers were pasted by the home batsmen.
Henry was prominent, reaching his 100 off 154 balls with a mix of cover drives, straight drives and two hook shots for six into the stands. Henry, 23, who scored a pair of half-centuries for New South Wales in a Sheffield Shield game against Victoria a fortnight ago, treated the visiting attack with contempt.
He offered only one chance -- a difficult one on the boundary that slipped through the fielder’s fingers and tumbled over the rope for one of his 22 fours.
Maxwell came in after tea and threatened to score 100 in a session -- but fell nine runs short after a quick knock. REUTERS
