Perfect ten for Essex

Ten Doeschate: fine hundred

Ryan ten Doeschate was the star of the show as he led an Essex fightback with the bat on day two of their tour match against Sri Lanka.

The Netherlands international hit 164 - his highest score for the county - to help his side make 351 all out in reply to the tourists' total of 337-9 declared.

Sri Lanka had resumed in the morning on 324-4 but quickly subsided as Reece Topley (4-23) claimed four wickets for six runs in 6.4 overs.

Essex also found life tough at the start of their reply, slipping to 24-3 when Ravi Bopara departed for just five; the England international has now failed to reach double figures in his last four innings.

However ten Doeschate combined with Tom Westley to put on a superb partnership of 195 in 43 overs that helped get Essex out of trouble.

The stand was eventually ended when Westley was caught behind off the bowling of Dilhara Fernando for 99, his innings having included 17 fours.

Ten Doeschate continued to dominate before he was bowled around his legs by off-spinner Surjav Randiv. The same bowler then hastened the end of the innings by claiming a hat-trick, helping him finish with figures of 4-76.

There was still time late in the day for teenager Topley to once again display his talents with the ball, the left-arm seamer getting first-innings centurion Lahiru Thirimanne caught behind for six. Sri Lanka closed on 7-1.

Day One

Lahiru Thirimanne virtually assured himself of a Test debut next week after scoring a century on the opening day of Sri Lanka's tour match with Essex.

Thirimanne struck 104 before retiring as the tourists made 324-4 on a rain-interrupted first day of three, Kumar Sangakkara dominating with 148 not out.

The 21-year-old left-hander looks set to fill in for the injured Tillakarane Dilshan, who broke his thumb while scoring 193 in the first Test at Lord's.

Thirimanne was dropped at third slip off teenage left-arm seamer Reece Topley early in his innings before going on to hit 15 boundaries in his century.

The first wicket came with the score on 71 with Tharanga Paranavitana (27) giving debutant Tymal Mills his first wicket for Essex.

Sangakkara then shared in a 152-run stand with Thirimanne in 36 overs before latter called it a day.

The captain continued on, but Sri Lanka lost two late wickets with Ravi Bopara removing Dinesh Chandimal and Thilan Samaraweera in the space of three balls.

Essex have rested the majority of their first team with 21-year-old spinner Tom Craddock and wicket-keeper Ben Foakes also making their debuts.

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