Sri Lanka ‘A’ make 2-0 clean sweep of unofficial test series

Saturday, 21 September 2024 00:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Pavan leads victory charge against South Africa ‘A’ with century

Pavan Rathnayake led Sri Lanka ‘A’s victory charge with a century

Sri Lanka ‘A’ led by Pasindu Sooriyabandara ended their tour of South Africa on a high note making a clean sweep of the two-match 4-day unofficial test series 2-0 winning the second and final match by five wickets at Benoni.

Set a target of 254 to chase in the fourth innings, Sri Lanka ‘A’ got there riding on the back of a brilliant unbeaten century by Pavan Rathnayake who struck 11 fours and 7 sixes in his 116* scored off only 67 balls. Buoyed by his century Sri Lanka ‘A’ rattled away the runs at six an over to reach their target in the 42nd over.

Rathnayake and Sooriyabandara who followed his first innings 92 with another half-century (52 off 67 balls, 6 fours) added 133 for the fourth wicket to set up the win.

Earlier, South Africa ‘A’ resumed their second innings from 112-3 declared at 238-9 with Dewald Brevis making a top score of 74 off 75 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes).

Sri Lanka ‘A’ won the first 4-day unofficial test by 6 wickets at Kimberley and also pocketed the three-match 50-over one-day series 2-1 to complete a rare double in South Africa.

Scores:

South Africa ‘A’ 334 and 238-9 decl. (Jean du Plessis 48, Dewald Brevis 74, Mohamed Shiraz 2/43, Isitha Wijesundara 2/22, Eshan Malinga 2/55)

Sri Lanka ‘A’ 319 and 254-5 (Lahiru Udara 25, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 52, Pavan Rathnayake 116*, Prenelan Subrayen 3/108, Beyers Swanepoel 2/30)