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Ranjan Anadappa reporting from South Africa

South Africa 'A' registered a convincing 65-run win over Sri Lanka on Duckoworth and Lewis method in their rain-affected one-day limited-over match at the North West Cricket Stadium on Saturday. The home team made a modest 221 all out in 47.4 overs but it looked too hard for the tourists who managed 111 for 8 in chasing a reduced target of 177 in 32 overs.

Potchefstroom, Saturday - South Africa 'A' registered a convincing 65-run win over Sri Lanka on Duckoworth and Lewis method in their rain-affected one-day limited-over match at the North West Cricket Stadium on Saturday. The home team made a modest 221 all out in 47.4 overs but it looked too hard for the tourists who managed 111 for 8 in chasing a reduced target of 177 in 32 overs.

Sri Lanka never looked comfortable ever since they lost skipper Sanath Jayasuriya for four runs in the very first over of their innings. Jayasuriya, who missed last week's second Test at Centurion due to an injury and is back to lead the side at the forthcoming one-day international series against the Africans, faced just five balls before paceman Steve Elworthy trapped him leg before for four. The Lankans lost wickets at regular intervals since then and there were a couple of interruptions due to rain, with the last being the Lankan total reading at 96 for 7 in 28.3 overs.

The Lankans' victory target was reduced from the original 222 in 50 overs to 189 in 34 overs and later to 177 in 32 overs. But their experienced batsmen all failed to make any impact - Jayasuriya (4), Aravinda de Silva (7) and Hashan Tillakaratne (3). Mahela Jayawardena (20) and Kumara Sangakkara (21) too failed to go beyond twenties while opener Marvan Atapattu was rested. Middle order batsman Tillakeratne, who is hoping to return to the one day international side after 42 months since 1999 May World Cup debacle, lasted just 19 balls before being caught by Ontong off Lance Klusner for three runs to have Sri Lanka reeling at 83 for 6 in the 25th over. Sri Lanka managed to score only 111 for 8 in 32 overs at the end with Russel Arnold unbeaten on 22.

Earlier, South Africa 'A' won the toss and elected to bat first. The home team had a shock start losing their first five wickets with only 68 runs on the board after 11 overs and were in further trouble at 124 for 8 in 25.4 overs. But a brave 57-run ninth wicket partnership between Eastern Province all-rounder Robin Paterson (61 off 68 balls with one six and seven fours) and Charl Langeverldt (33 n.o.) helped South Africa 'A' to recover. Langeverldt and Monde Nondeki (23) put on 40 runs for the last wicket.

Paceman Pulasthi Gunaratne (4 for 44) was the most impressive amongst Lankan bowlers with good support coming in from his new ball partner Prabath Nissanka, who captured two wickets. This is Sri Lanka's only warm-up game before moving on to the first of the five one-day internationals against South Africa on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya said his side is ready to make a comeback and provide shocks in the forthcoming five-match one-day international series against South Africa which starts in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

The Lankans will be slightly more competitive in the one-day series - boosted by their performance in the final Test - and have called on six players to bolster their reserves including the experienced Aravinda de Silva. With Sanath Jayasuriya expected to be back to something resembling full match fitness, the Sri Lankans expect to give the South Africans a better fight in the limited-over series.

For South Africa it will be another crucial transition from Test to one-day cricket and they will in all likelihood call on the services of veterans Allan Donald and Jonty Rhodes for the five-match one day series. An interesting pointer to the national selectors thinking is the make-up of the South Africa 'A' team which played Sri Lankans on Saturday.

Included were World Cup veterans Daryll Cullinan, Gary Kirsten, Lance Klusener and Steve Elworthy. They are undoubtedly on trail and with time running short before a provisional squad is named, their performances will need to be out of top drawer. But Cullinan's dreams of a return to the one day international side for the first match against Sri Lanka in Johannesburg suffered a major set back when he was out for a duck in Saturday's match against the tourists.

SOUTH AFRICA 'A' 

G. Kirsten st Tillakaratne b De Silva		21
D. Cullinan c Jayasuriya b Gunaratne		 0
M. van Jaarsveld c Jayawardene b Gunaratne	 8
N. McKenzie c Mubarak b Gunaratne		21
J. Ontong c Tillakaratne b Nissanka		21
L. Klusener b Gunaratne				 1
R. Peterson c Mubarak b Arnold			61
T. Tsolekile c Tillakaratne b Nissanka		 6
S. Elworthy c Arnold b Fernando			 5
C. Langeveldt not out				33
M. Zondeki c Arnold b Fernando			23

Extras (B-4, LB-2, NB-9, W-6)			21
TOTAL (47.4 overs)	221
Fall OF WICKETS: 1-2, 2-17, 3-61, 4-67, 5-68, 
6-95, 7-103, 8-124, 9-181 
BOWLING: P. Nissanka 10-0-57-2 (6nb, 2w), 
P. Gunaratne 10-0-44-4 (1w), A. De Silva 10-1-30-1, 
H. Fernando 8.4-1-42-2 (2nb, 1w), 
T. Samaraweera 5-0-27-0 (1nb, 2w), R. Arnold 4-0-15-1.

S. Jayasuriya lbw b Elworthy			 4
J. Mubarak c Tsolekile b Elworthy		17
K. Sangakkara c McKenzie b Elworthy		21
A. de Silva c Ontong b Klusener			 7
M. Jayawardene c Tsolekile b Zondeki		20
R. Arnold not out				22
H. Tillakaratne c Ontong b Klusener		 3
H. Fernando c Kirsten b Klusener		 2
T. Samaraweera run out (Klusener)		 1
P. Nissanka not out				 7

Extras (B-2, LB-2, NB-1, W-2)			 7
TOTAL (8 wkts, 32 overs)	111
FALLS OF WICKETS: 1-4, 2-36, 3-47, 4-72, 5-74, 
6-83, 7-90, 8-98.
BOWLING: S. Elworthy 7-0-34-3, 
C. Langeveldt 5-1-22-0 (1nb, 1w), 
M. Zondeki 7-2-8-1, L. Klusener 8-1-19-3 (1w), 
R. Peterson 5-0-24-0.

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