South Africa ‘A’ succumb to spin – lose by 161 runs

Thursday, 15 June 2023 01:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka ‘A’ players congratulate each other after beating South Africa ‘A’ in the first 4-day unofficial test at Pallekele

Sri Lanka ‘A’ take 1-0 lead in 4-day unofficial test series

South Africa ‘A’ batsmen succumbed to spin on a turning Pallekele International Cricket Stadium pitch to lose the first 4-day unofficial cricket test to Sri Lanka ‘A’ inside three days by 161 runs yesterday.

On a day that saw 20 wickets tumble with 11 of them being taken by spinners, South Africa ‘A’ facing a tall task of chasing 346 for victory were dismissed for 185 with seven overs remaining to be bowled for the third day.

Four of South Africa ‘A’s batsmen got into their twenties but none stayed long enough to play a lengthy innings as Sri Lanka ‘A’ spinners Lakshitha Manasinghe, Lasith Embuldeniya and Ramesh Mendis took two wickets apiece to ensure a speedy end to their innings.

South Africa ‘A’ missed the batting of Tristan Stubbs in the second innings being indisposed. He came to this match with back to back fifties in the unofficial ODI series.

Earlier, Sri Lanka ‘A’ commencing their second innings with a first innings lead of 194, once again fell to the left-arm spin of Senuran Muthusamy who picked up his second five-fer in the match for match figures of 12/175.

Kamindu Mendis (35) and Ramesh Mendis (46) were the only batsmen to put up some resistance before both fell to Muthusamy.The second 4-day unofficial test begins at the P Sara Oval on 19 June. – (ST)

Scores:

Sri Lanka ‘A’ 325 and 151 (Kamindu Mendis 35, Ramesh Mendis 46, Lizaad Williams 2/16, Gerald Coetzee 2/31, Senuran Muthusamy 5/53)
South Africa ‘A’ 131 and 185 (Keegan Petersen 29, Senuran Muthusamy 29, Sinethemba Qeshile 23, Dewald Brevis 20, Lakshitha Manasinghe 2/36, Lasith Embuldeniya 2/36, Ramesh Mendis 2/50)

Senuran Muthusamy was once again amongst the wickets for South Africa ‘A’ finishing with a match bag of 12 wickets

Ramesh Mendis top scored for Sri Lanka ‘A’ in their second innings with a defiant 46