Central Province beat Western Province by seven wickets in their Inter-Provincial cricket tournament match on day three of the four-day match at the SSC grounds Colombo yesterday.

Brief scores: Western Province 43 and 270

Central Province 133 and 192 for 3 in 36 overs (S. Fernando 64 n.o (11x4)

Day two - Central Province chasing a victory target of 188 inside two days were 14 for no loss by the close of day two of their Inter-Provincial match against Western Province continued at SSC grounds on Sunday.

Western Province resuming at their overnight 32 for 1, rode on a stubborn 85 from ex Sri Lanka Test captain Hashan Tillakarathne before being dismissed late in the day for 278.

Tillakarathne long overlooked by national selectors since being removed from the captaincy in 2004 after a 3-0 clean sweep to Australia, held the Western Province innings together with his dogged knock.

The experienced left hander first raised 73 runs for the seventh wicket with Muthumudalige Pushpakumara (30) before being joined by number 11 Dinuk Hettiarachchi (8 n.o.) to add a crucial 48 runs for the 10th wicket to delay the inevitable.

Tillakarathne who faced 186 deliveries stroked 10 boundaries in his 288 minute stay at the crease while handy contributions also came from openers Michael Van Dort (21), Ian Daniel (37) and one drop bat Upul Tharanga (35) respectively.

Sri Lanka left armer Nuwan Soyza who claimed dream figures of (6/12) on Saturday to help Central Province bowl out Western Province for a paltry 43 was made to toil for figures of 2 for 64 while Dilhara Lokuhettige was the pick of the Central bowlers claiming 4 for 70.

Central Province skipper Kumar Sangakkara further enhanced his burgeoning reputation as a wicket keeper with six victims and a big knock from the stylish left hander will be vital for their victory bid on Monday.

Another discarded Sri Lanka quick bowler Chamila Gamage also picked up 3 for 54 as Western Province looks likely to pay the price for folding up for a lowly first innings total with defending champions Central in pole position to wrap up the contest with a day to spare.

The pitch on day two seems to have improved markedly as only nine wickets fell in comparison to 21 wickets which crashed on Saturday.

But this game has been dominated by a line up of Sri Lanka pace bowlers who no doubt staked their claims for the two Test tour to New Zealand in April.

M Van Dort ct Sudarshana b D Perera 21

I Daniel ct Sangakkara b Lokuhettige 37

U Tharanga ct B Perera b Lokuhettige 35

R Arnold ct Sangakka ra b Lokuhettige 6

H Tillakarathne ct Sangakkara b N Soyza 85

R Peiris ct Sangakkara b N Soyza 18

C Vaas ct R Perera b Gamage 16

M Pushpakumara ct Sangakkara b Gamage 30

T Mirando ct Sangakkara b Gamage 0

D Fernando ct Perera b N Soyza 4

D Hettiarachchi n o 8

Extras (nb-13, b-4, lb-1) 18

FOW 1-24, 2-91, 3-101, 4-108, 5-136, 6-156, 7-229, 8-233-9-240

Bowling: N Soyza 25.2-5-64-2 C Gamage 16-1-54-3 D Perera 6-1-23-1 R Perera 18-2-61-0 D Lokuhettige 17-0-70-4

D Sudarshana n o 8

D Perera n o 4

Extras (nb-2) 2