Hemantha five stings SA ‘A’ in Potch

South Africa A lost five wickets for 45 runs to miss the chance of squaring their one-day series with Sri Lanka A and instead went down by 30 runs in match two at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Monday.

The result meant the tourists claimed an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game sequence.

But the hosts will no doubt be ruing what may have been after a Matthew Breetzke’s top-score, an assured 74 off 80 balls (4 fours, 1 six) had left them in a relatively good position at 194 for five in the 33rd over of the chase – needing just 76 more to win.

But Dushan Hemantha’s five for 48 proved key to turning the game upside down as the visitors closed out the game by bowling the home side out for 239 with 8.5 overs to spare.

It was a disappointing end to the game and means that match three on Wednesday will be a dead rubber.

However, things could have been so much better for the hosts after they had restricted SL ‘A’ to 269 for seven when they won the toss and opted to bat first.

Andile’s Simelane (2/24) and Phehlukwayo (2/51) took two wickets each, while there was also a strike each for Senuran Muthusamy (1/36), Codi Yusuf (1/61) and Nqaba Peter (1/58) in an improved display with the ball by the South Africans after match one where they conceded nearly 300.

Lahiru Udara (86 off 95 balls, 11 fours, 1 six) and Sahan Arachchige (52 off 56 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) top-scored for the Sri Lankans.

Then in reply, Meeka eel Prince (44) and Muthusamy (37) helped the hosts recover from the early loss of David Bedingham (7) to reach 93 for one and then 149 for two thanks to Breetzke also at the other end.

But things went wrong from there as regular wickets hampered their progress. Simelane (27) and Phehlukwayo (24) again did their bit in trying to rescue the game, but Hemantha’s five cut open the tail and took the away side to what proved to be a comfortable win.

South Africa A One-Day squad against Sri Lanka A

Matthew Breetzke (captain, Dafabet Warriors), David Bedingham (World Sports Betting Western Province), Eathan Bosch (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Dewald Brevis (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tony de Zorzi (World Sports Betting Western Province), Dayyaan Galiem (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tristan Luus (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Mihlali Mpongwana (World Sports Betting Western Province), Andile Mogakane (Dafabet Warriors), Senuran Muthusamy (North West Dragons), Andile Phehlukwayo (Momentum Multiply Titans), Meeka-eel Prince (North West), Andile Simelane (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lutho Sipamla (DP World Lions) and Codi Yusuf (DP World Lions).

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).

South Africa A Tour against Sri Lanka A

One-Day Matches

Saturday, 31 August at 10am

South Africa A lost to Sri Lanka A by 93 runs - JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom

Monday, 02 September at 10am

South Africa A lost to Sri Lanka A by 30 runs - JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom

Wednesday, 04 September at 10am

South Africa A v Sri Lanka A - JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom

Four-Day Matches

08 - 11 September at 10am

South Africa A v Sri Lanka A - Kimberley Oval, Kimberley

15 - 18 September at 10am

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