Conditions favourable for spinners in Dambulla

by Chris Dhambarage

The Sri Lanka 'A' team will be hoping to continue with their outstanding form when they confront the touring South Africa 'A' team in the second four day unofficial test match which begins at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium today.

The Lankans led by dashing left hander Avishka Gunawardena are already one up in the series having won the first unofficial test by a convincing margin of six wickets at the NCC grounds in Maitland Place. They will be determined to keep the pressure on the opposition throughout the next four days which will also give them a good chance of forcing a victory.

The conditions once again will no doubt help the Sri Lankan spinners who played havoc during the first test in Colombo last week. Left arm spinner Sajeewa Weerakoon will be the key player following his matchbag of thirteen wickets in the first test. He will be supported by Kaushal Lokuarachchi who is also an expected to play a dominant role as an allrounder.

Lokuarachchi played a fighting half century in the first innings of the first test and also picked up some crucial wickets to make a strong claim for a place in the Sri Lanka one day squad.

The South Africans too have two good spinners in their ranks in the form of Paul Adams and John Botha. Both had a successful outing in the first test and will have to produce even a better display if they are to level the series.

South Africa's main concern will be their batting which did not click well and struggled to get pass the 250 run mark in both innings.

Incidentally they collapsed to 173 runs in the second innings of that match with Sajeewa Weerakoon claiming a seven wicket haul. South Africa will be hoping for an improved performance from their top order batting where only uncapped Zander de Bruyn made an impact scoring a century in the first innings.