Madushka, Madushanka conjure 7-wicket win for Sri Lanka A

Wednesday, 7 June 2023 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

South Africa A pair Gerald Coetzee and Tristan Stubbs during their face-saving stand of 111 for the eighth wicket

Unofficial ODI series level at 1-all with one to play

Sri Lanka A opener Nishan Madushka drives on his way to an unbeaten century

Dilshan Madushanka of Sri Lanka A rattled the South African A top order with the first four wickets

Nishan Madushka and Dilshan Madushanka gave a reminder to the national selectors that they are in the peak form ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers when they combined superbly to conjure a comprehensive seven-wicket win for Sri Lanka A against the touring South Africa A in the second unofficial ODI played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

The form Madushka is in is astonishing. He has grabbed at every opportunity given him by the selectors and seized it with both hands. Yesterday against a strong South African A bowling attack he led Sri Lanka A’s charge in chasing down a target of 176 with a masterful unbeaten century (107* off 85 balls, 13 fours, 2 sixes) as the home side won with 21 overs to spare.

The win levelled the series one-all with the third and deciding match to be played on Thursday.

Madushka opening the batting was rock solid at one end while three wickets fell cheaply from the other end as Sri Lanka A slid to 74-3 in 12.1 overs. But in Sahan Arachchige, Madushka found an able ally and together they took the team to victory with an unbroken partnership of 104. Arachchige playing all round the wicket completed his half-century off 55 balls (6 fours).

Earlier, South Africa A won the toss and batting first were shaken by the right-arm fast-medium deliveries of Madushanka who ripped through their top order taking the first four wickets. Janith Liyanage who also bowls at the same pace proved an ideal foil as he picked up two wickets to have South Africa A wobbling at 42-7 in 16 overs.

Tristan Stubbs and Gerald Coetzee brought some sanity into the batting, indulging in a face-saving stand of 111 that saw South Africa A to their final total of 175 all out. Both batsmen took their time to play themselves in with Stubbs scoring a defiant 59 off 88 balls (1 four, 3 sixes) and Coetzee a well struck 77 off 89 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes). The partnership was broken by the off-break of Arachchige who had Stubbs stumped by Madushanka. Coetzee managed a few hits before he was last out. – (ST)

Scores:

South Africa A: 175 (43.2) (Tristan Stubbs 59, Gerald Coetzee 77, Dilshan Madushanka 4/33, Janith Liyanage 2/32, Sahan Arachchige 2/18)
Sri Lanka A: 178-3 (29) (Nishan Madushka 107*, Sahan Arachchige 50*)