Stubbs century puts South Africa ‘A’ on par with Sri Lanka ‘A’

South Africa ‘A’ batsman Tristan Stubbs celebrates his century on the second day of the second 4-day unofficial test at the 

P. Sara Oval

Second 4-day unofficial cricket test at P. Sara Oval  

South Africa ‘A’s Keegan Petersen drives on his way to a half-century

Vishwa Fernando who took three wickets for Sri Lanka ‘A’ in action

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Tristan Stubbs, whose batting South Africa ‘A’ badly missed in their second innings of the first 4-day unofficial test when he was indisposed and was unable to bat, provided a stumbling block for Sri Lanka ‘A’ on the second day of the second 4-day unofficial test played at the P. Sara Oval yesterday.

The 22-year-old highly talented right-hander from Eastern Province showed once more that he has adjusted to the dry turning pitches in Sri Lanka by producing a splendid century (117), only his third in first-class cricket to place South Africa ‘A’ within three runs of Sri Lanka ‘A’s first innings total of 290 with four wickets in hand. By stumps South Africa ‘A’ were 287-6.

It was Stubbs’ two half-centuries that enabled South Africa ‘A’ to clinch the three-match unofficial ODI series 2-1, and yesterday he played an innings of character to place his team in a position to gain a first innings lead and push for a win to level the two-match unofficial test series. Sri Lanka ‘A’ won the first unofficial test by 160 runs.

South Africa ‘A’ were rocked by Test fast bowler Vishwa Fernando in his opening spell when he prized out both openers skipper Toni de Zorzi (first ball duck) and Matthew Breetzke (10) to have them two down for 15.

But Test cricketer Keegan Petersen joined Stubbs in a third wicket partnership of 123 to put the innings back on track. Petersen lost his wicket to off-spinner Laksitha Manasinghe soon after completing his 50 off 143 balls (4 fours), but he was replaced by yet another Test player Zubayr Hamza who forged a fruitful partnership that produced 86 runs.

Fernando, coming for a new spell broke the stand by trapping Stubbs for 117 to pick up his third wicket of the innings – all lbw victims, but had to pull up halfway through his 14th over with cramps and walk off the field. He however returned after treatment and Sri Lanka ‘A’ will look to him as well as Manasinghe to polish off the tail as quickly as possible.

Stubbs who batted with flair, stroked 15 fours and a six in his 181-ball innings. 

Soon after, Hamza was castled by Manasinghe for a pleasing 46 off 76 balls (6 fours) as Sri Lanka ‘A’ gradually crawled back into the game. Shortly before the close Manasinghe accounted for Senuran Muthusamy (10) to end the day with figures of 3/45.

Earlier Ramesh Mendis and Milan Ratnayake the two overnight batsmen carried their eighth wicket partnership to 65 valuable runs before South Africa ‘A’ finally managed to separate them. Ratnayake edged a catch behind the wicket to Kyle Verreynne for a plucky 35 off 58 balls (5 fours, 1 six) and soon afterwards the innings came to an end at 290 when Mendis was eventually out for an audacious knock of 62 off 123 balls (5 fours, 2 sixes) and Praveen Jayawickrama (0) became left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy’s sixth victim giving the bowler figures of 6/101 off 26.1 overs. The match continues on its third day today.