Set a target of 187 runs to win on the final day of the four-day match, the Sri Lankans resumed at six for one and reached 187 for five.

Tillakaratne Dilshan was the best of the Sri Lankan batsmen, finishing unbeaten on 66.

Local cricketer Ian Redpath was the stand-out bowler in the home side, picking up 2-22 off seven overs.

Glenn McGrath declared himself "ready to go" after his final hit out before the first Test against Sri Lanka, starting here on Thursday.

McGrath went into the tour match under pressure from the selectors to show some form after a slow return from ankle surgery.

The 34-year-old veteran of 95 Tests and 430 Test wickets managed just one wicket in each innings on a slow pitch.

But it was the rhythm he found in his 1-25 off 14 overs in the second innings that delighted McGrath ahead of the first Test.

"I'm a lot more confident now than what I was before this match here," McGrath said.

"That's the best my ankle has felt and the best I've hit the crease for the last two and a half years and to me that was the secret to me bowling well.

"My confidence is, yesterday morning compared to now, it's 500 per cent better.

"I'm so much more confident and couldn't be happier at the moment."

McGrath finished with 1-62 off 24 overs in the first innings.

Test opener Justin Langer, who also had a hit out for the Chief Minister's XI, revealed McGrath's moments of doubt after a year-long absence from Test cricket.

"We've talked a lot about it," Langer said.

"I was really keen to encourage him and just tell him to be patient because he has been, he has got a bit down on himself.

"Again he is human and he probably hasn't played much in 12 months, his confidence is down a little bit which happens to everyone, and probably never really happened to him throughout his whole career.

"He's done really well and I think he'll be really looking forward now to the Test match coming on Thursday."

McGrath's return gives Test skipper Ricky Ponting a tricky decision on whether to hand him the new ball in tandem with old partner Jason Gillespie or give that job to Michael Kasprowicz.

"If I was (Ponting) I'd give him the new ball," said Langer.

"The boys get here tomorrow so no doubt we'll talk about it. I just thought he looked as you always expect Glenn McGrath to bowl."