Sports

Emphatic victory by South Africa 'A'

by Chris Dhambarage

The South Africa 'A' team proved too strong for the Sri Lanka 'A' team as the visitors cruised to an emphatic ten wicket victory in their triangular limited overs cricket tournament opening match played at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Sri Lanka 'A' were shot out for just 45 runs in less than 25 overs and the South Africans reached their target in the fifth over. This was a real professional performance from the South Africans who were boosted by the inclusion of two new caps especially picked for the one day series.

They exploited the conditions at the Premadasa Stadium to good effect and were very much in control from the moment they won the toss in the morning. South Africa 'A' did not hesitate to field first and their decision certainly brought good results as wickets began to tumble at regular intervals.

The Sri Lanka 'A' team simply surrendered meekly with opening bowler Steyn returning outstanding figures of five wickets for 20 runs from seven overs. His new ball partner Tyronne Henderson was equally good conceding just 14 runs from his eight overs and also capturing two wickets.

Jeewan Mendis batting at number five was the only batsman to reach double figures and only three boundaries were scored during the entire innings. Sri Lanka 'A' will meet New Zealand 'A' in the second match of the tournamenent today at the same venue.

SRI LANKA ‘A’ INNINGS Avishka Gunawardena lbw b Steyn 0 Upul Tharanga c Tsolokile b Steyn 6 Shantha Kalawitigoda c Botha b Henderson 1 Jehan Mubarak b Steyn 1 Jeewan Mendis c Tsolokile b Henderson 11 Michael van Dort b Steyn 0 Prasanna Jayawardena c Bruyn b Steyn 2 Farveez Maharoof c Bruyn b van der Wath 3 Dilhara Lokuhettige c Bosman b Morkel 8 Kaushal Lokuarachchi c Tsolokile b Morkel 2 Nuwan Soysa not out 0 Extras (w9, nb2) 11 TOTAL all out in 21.4 overs 45 FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0, 2-1, 3-4, 4-20, 5-20, 6-24, 7-28, 8-40, 9-41 BOWLING: Steyn 7-1-20-5, Henderson 8-4-14-2, van der Wath 4-3-2-1, Morkel 2.4-1-9-2.

SOUTH AFRICA ‘A’ Andrew Puttick not out 19 Loots Bosman not out 22 Extras (w2, nb4) 6 TOTAL for no loss in 4.5 overs 47 BOWLING: Zoysa 2.5-0-31-0, Maharoof 2-0-16-0.