Tim Phillips and Andrew McGarry had every reason to feel satisfied when making their first class debuts for Essex against Sri Lanka A at Chelmsford.

Between them the two teenagers emerged from a day of toil with six wickets as the tourists were bowled out for 364.

Their performances were rich in promise and undoubtedly proved the day's highlights against opponents boasting four players with test experience.

Phillips, an 18-year-old left arm spinner who made his senior debut at Southend over the weekend in the National League game against Hampshire, confirmed the good impression he made on that occasion.

A product of Felsted School, at which Derek Pringle, Nick Knight and John Stephenson cut their cricketing teeth before going on to play for England, Phillips bowled with a fine control to return 4-42 from 17 overs.

McGarry, only 17 and a fast bowler from South Woodham who is shortly to attend Southend College to do a course in sports sciences, emerged with 2-72 - figures which would have been healthier but for lapses in the field.

Twice McGarry found the edge against Tuwan Dilshan but Paul Grayson and Stephen Peters failed to hold on to far from difficult slip catches.

One of the youngster's victims was Test opener Avishka Gunawardena who he trapped lbw with his 13th delivery.

Russel Arnold, whose 70 contained eight boundaries, and Dishan, who included ten fours and a six in his 86, were Sri Lanka's main contributers on a day when the County went into action with five teenagers. Ian Flanagan, Justin Bishop and Graham Napier were the others.

Essex's inexperienced side finished up having every reason to feel content with their day's work. The tourists looked poised for a massive total as they went beyond 250 for the loss of only three wickets.

But they lost the remainder in the final session, left-arm spinner Grayson bringing the innings to a close in the final over of the day.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.