Sri Lanka A beat South Africa in South Africa … A Feat-by Michael Roberts
Source:Thuppahis
Playing a five-day match away from home in unfamiliar territory is no joke and Sri Lanka A’s emphatic triumph over their SAF counerparts at Kimberley this month of September augurs well for the future. The scores suggest that medium-pacer Isitha Wijesundara‘s haul of seven wkts for 34 runs in the second Saf innings was one of the main factors behind this win. As a result South Africa only made 134 runs all told.
Led by opener Oshada Fernando’s 80 runs the Lankans reached the target of 179 for the loss of four wkts. It was Oshada who received the Man of the Match Award …. because he had also mustered a century in Lanka’s first innings total of 334.
Oshada Fernando
Isitha Wijesundara
ESPN SCORESHEETS …. seem to have disappeared ….. !!!$$$!!! …. while I was batting here!
The Safs led on the first innings but not by much. But Isitha Wijesundera skittled them in the second innings.
However the web site supersport came to our aid: here is its report
Oshada Fernando played a second crucial innings of the match to help Sri Lanka A (SL ‘A’) overcome South Africa A (SA ‘A’) by six wickets on the final day of the first unofficial test at the Kimberley Oval in Kimberley on Wednesday.
The right-hander, who hit 122 in the first innings, made a vital 80 off 122 balls (12 fours) on day four, to carry his side to their 174-run target and into a 1-0 series lead.
He was there at the start of proceedings when the visitors resumed on 34 for one, ensuring his side held their nerve after suffering an early blow when Codi Yusuf (2-29) dismissed Nuwanidu Fernando for a seven-ball duck.
That left the score on 36 for two and with the door open for the hosts.
But Oshada and captain Pasindu Sooriyabandara (22) dug in by sharing a stand of 46 in just over 16 overs for the third wicket to take their side to 82, before the skipper was bowled by Prenenlan Subrayen (1-34).
Janith Liyanage joined Oshada and the pair continued to thwart the home side as they added 66 for the next wicket to all but seal the game.
By the time the latter was unseated by Migael Pretorius (1-38) only 26 more runs were needed and Sonal Dinusha got 14 of those runs to carry the Sri Lankans safely home.
The second and final unofficial test begins in Benoni on Sunday.
A NOTE: Kimberley is in the mounainous plateau area of South Africa and is likely to have beena forbidding cricketing atmosphere [but check this thought out].
