DAY 2: Udara holds up SA ‘A’ with half-century

Lahiru Udara’s unbeaten half-century led the Sri Lanka A (SL ‘A’) fightback on a shortened day two of the second and final unofficial test against South Africa A (SA ‘A’) at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Monday.

The opener hit 61 off 110 balls (10 fours) to lead the tourists to 134 for two when bad light and rain forced a premature end to proceedings after the tea interval.

It meant that SL ‘A’ had closed to within 200 of the home side, who earlier lost their last three wickets for just 18 runs thanks to the visiting seamers.

The South Africans had resumed the second morning with captain Neil Brand still in the middle, unbeaten on his overnight 122.

But after adding just seven to his tally, he fell to Eshan Malinga (3-68) for 129 off 253 balls (12 fours, 1 six).

Prenelan Subrayen was then cleaned up by Isitha Wijesundera (2-60) for a duck, before Migael Pretorius fell to the same bowler for 19.

South Africa’s own seamers then accounted for two Sri Lanakan wickets relatively cheaply.

Beyers Swanepoel (1-41) was first to strike when he had Nuwanidu Fernando caught by Tshepang Dithole for 11 and the miserly Mihlali Mpongwana (1-12) then got rid of Pavan Rathnayake (15).

At 57 for two, the hosts would have felt confident. But captain Pasindu Sooriyabandara then walked in and struck an unbeaten 43 to repel the home side.

By the close he had added an unbroken 77 with Udara for the third wicket to leave the game in the balance at halfway.

South Africa A Four-Day squad against Sri Lanka A

Neil Brand (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Marques Ackerman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Matthew Breetzke (Dafabet Warriors), Dewald Brevis (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tshepang Dithole (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Jean du Plessis (Dafabet Warriors), Patrick Kruger (Dafabet Warriors), Rivaldo Moonsamy (Momentum Multiply Titans), Mihlali Mpongwana (World Sports Betting Western Province), Migael Pretorius (North West Dragons), Sinethemba Qeshile (Dafabet Warriors), Lutho Sipamla (DP World Lions), Prenelan Subrayen (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Beyers Swanepoel (Dafabet Warriors) and Codi Yusuf (DP World Lions).

Four-Day Matches

8 -11 September 

South Africa A lost to Sri Lanka A by 6 wickets - Kimberley Oval, Kimberley

15 - 18 September at 10am

South Africa A v Sri Lanka A - Willowmoore Park, Benoni