BENONI: A splendid exhibition of spin bowling by Prenelan Subrayen gave South Africa A (SA ‘A’) the advantage before Sri Lanka A (SL ‘A’) fought back to leave the second and final unofficial Test finely poised after three days of action at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Tuesday.
The Hollywoodbets Dolphins star claimed six for 64 in 22 overs to turn the game on its head and bowl out the tourists for 319 – an innings deficit of 15 – before the hosts then reached stumps on 112 for three.
That gave them a lead of 127 with every result possible on Wednesday, the final day of the series.
It was a good comeback from the South Africans after they were put under pressure for a large part of the day by Lahiru Udara, who completed an excellent century.
The opener struck 129 (192 balls, 16 fours, 1 six) and was the mainstay for his side, carrying them from their overnight score of 134 for two to 236 for two.
He put on 179 for the third wicket with his captain Pasindu Sooriyabandara (92 off 166 balls, 9 fours, 1 six), before home skipper Neil Brand (2/45) finally claimed the first wicket of the day when he bowled the former.
The latter continued to thwart SA as he added a further 36 with Janith Liyanage (14) to carry his side to 272 for three.
But that was when the Subrayen show began, with the off-break bowler claiming six of the remaining seven wickets to ensure his side ended the innings with a lead.
In all, Sri Lanka lost their last seven wickets for 47 to gift the home side a slight advantage at the changeover.
But three wickets – Brand (7), Tshepang Dithole (19) and Marques Ackerman (6) – were lost early in the second innings to leave South Africa in trouble on 68 for three, just 83 runs ahead at that stage.
However, a vital unbroken 44-run fourth-wicket partnership between Jean du Plessis (45*) and Dewald Brevis (29*) lead the recovery, giving their side the chance to force a result on day four.
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
08 – 11 September at 10:00
South Africa A lost to Sri Lanka A by 6 wickets – Kimberley Oval, Kimberley
15 – 18 September at 10:00
South Africa A vs Sri Lanka A – Willowmoore Park, Benoni
ource: cricket.co.za
Graeme Pollock (born 1944) – 53 internationals, 55.53 average, 274 high score, 15 centuries, 23 official Tests: Pollock’s average has come down, but over a long career, that is probably accurate. Pollock only averaged 35 in eight rest of the world matches and 35 in six other matches. But in the early ’70s his form suffered as he transitioned from wearing glasses to contact lenses, and it took a while for him to adjust.
Neogermal
Cricket originated in England.
street squirrel
The longest cricket match occurred in 1939 between South Africa and England. The game lasted for 14 days and ended in a draw.