South Africa 'A' team fight-back to force a draw
BY CHRIS Dhambarage
DAMBULLA - The touring South Africa 'A' team fought back well in
their second innings to force a draw to their three day cricket fixture
against the Sri Lanka 'A' team at the Rangiri Dambulla International
Stadium yesterday.
The visitors chasing a victory target of 219 runs reached 127 for 5
after being 53 for 5 at one stage.
Their fifth wicket pair of Hashim Amla and John Botha put up a fine
performance to share the honours adding 74 runs together. Amla batting
at number three led the way with a fighting knock of 64 not out while
his partner John Botha remained unbeaten on 30.
The pair came together at a crucial stage when Sri Lanka 'A' were
cruising towards victory having polished off the top order in less than
a session. The home side spearheaded by paceman Charith Jayaweera made
early inroads into the South Africans batting after they had set a
modest victory target.
Jayaweera captured the wickets of Zander de Bruyn, Justing Ontong and
wicket keeper batsman Thami Tsolokile during a fiery opening spell after
Ruchira Perera and Dilhara Lokuhettige had sent back both openers with
only six runs on the board.
But Sri Lanka 'A' could not achieve any success from there onwards as
Hashim Amla and all rounder John Botha both batted with a great amount
of determination to force a draw.
The bearded Amla after failing to make any impact in the first
unofficial test finally rose to the occasion with a matchsaving knock of
64 not out. He occupied the crease for nearly four hours facing 146
balls and stroked five fours. Botha batted for 152 minutes faced 133
balls and struck three fours during his stubborn unbeaten knock of 30.
Earlier Avishka Gunawardena scored a splendid 111 as Sri Lanka 'A'
recovered well to reach a formidable 266 in their second innings. The
dashing left hander struck sixteen fours and faced 154 balls and also
added 79 runs for the seventh wicket along with Dilhara Lokuhettige.
In fact all rounder Lokuhettige went on to make a sparkling 51 from
just 53 balls with the help of one six and six fours.
SRI LANKA ‘A’ - 1ST INNINGS 206
SOUTH AFRICA ‘A’ - 1ST INNINGS 254
SRI LANKA ‘A’ - 2ND INNINGS
(Overnight 169 for 6)
Avishka Gunawardena c Rudolph b Ontong 111
Upul Tharanga c Amla b Zondeki 9
Ian Daniel c Amla b Zondeki 1
Jehan Mubarak b Crueger 16
Chanaka Wijesinghe lbw b Crueger 10
Prasanna Jayawardena b Botha 29
Kaushal Lokuarachchi b Botha 21
Dilhara Lokuhettige c Amla b Botha 51
Sajeewa Weerakoon c Puttick b Ontong 0
Charith Jayaweera run out 0
Ruchira Perera not out 6
Extras (b8, lb3, w1) 12
TOTAL (all out) 266
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-33, 2-35, 3057,
4-66, 5-115, 6-169, 7-248, 8-249, 9-249
BOWLING: Zondeki 12-0-54-2, Henderson 10-2-38-0,
Crueger 6-0-33-2, Bruyn 10-0-46-0,
Botha 12-1-42-3, Adams 4-0-26-0,
Ontong 6-1-16-2.
SOUTH AFRICA ‘A’ - 2ND INNINGS
(Target 219 runs)
Jacque Rudolph c Jayawardena b Perera 3
Andrew Puttick lbw b Lokuhettige 2
Hashim Amla not out 64
Zander de Bruyn c Tharanga b Jayaweera 17
Justing Ontong b Jayaweera 0
Thami Tsolokile c Jayawardena b Jayaweera 7
John Botha not out 30
Extras (lb1, w3) 4
TOTAL (for 5 wickets) 127
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-5, 2-6, 3-45, 4-45, 5-53.
BOWLING: Lokuhettige 6-2-19-1, Perera 10-2-27-1,
Weerakoon 20-7-31-0, Jayaweera 5-0-19-3,
Lokuarachchi 17-3-30-0.
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