Ranatunga who has been at the receiving end of some inconsistent umpiring was not happy at the way be was ruled out.
After the loss of two early wickets that of Atapattu and Mahanama for 51, Jayasuriya and De Silva were involved in a threatening stand of 65 for the third wicket. At this stage the game was still open. And then it happened. De Silva went brilliantly caught in the covers at 116 for 28, Jayasuriya lofted a catch to mid wicket at 127 for 68 with 6 fours in 59 deliveries, and at the same score Ranatunga went supposed to be caught behind.
Jayasuriya made his first one-day half century against South Africa. His innings was scintillating while it lasted.
During the South African innings De Silva, Muralidaran and Chandana did well to stall the free scoring SA batsmen. Muralidaran and Chandana's fielding too was excellent. The South Africans put the pressure on the Lankans and their bowlers and fielders were spot on with Rhodes being the will o' the wisp here, there and everywhere stopping nearly 30 to 40 runs. Paceman Roger Telemachus who missed a tour of Australia due to injury and who is making a strong bid for inclusion in the team to England had the fine figures of 4 for 43. The man of the match was Roger Telemachus.
South Africa made 266/8 in their innings against Sri Lanka in the first triangular game here today.
It was a glorious day when skippers Cronje and Ranatunga walked out to toss. Cronje won the toss and elected to bat on a good batting wicket. Sri Lanka had sent back Hashan Tillekeratne and Nuwan Zoysa as only 15 players are allowed in the one-day triangular. The Proteas tossed in Crookes for Symcox while Sri Lanka went in with the team that we had predicted. It was a packed house of nearly 40 thousand spectators that thronged the stadium. As for the Lankans they had support from a near 500 crowd that had come from Zambia and Botswana. Among them was former Thomian opening batsman Bhagya Epasinghe who played in the company of Mahanama, Kaluwitharana, Atapattu and Dharmasena. Epasinghe is a heavy scorer in domestic cricket in Botswana.
Rindel and Kirsten got the home team to a flyer putting on 67 for the first wicket. Rindel was the more aggressive. While Kirsten was content to push it along. The South Africans who made a score of 280 against Pakistan were looking for something in that region. And the way they were going that looked a possibility. But they did not reckon with the Sri Lankan spinners Aravinda de Silva, Muttiah Muralidaran and Upul Chandana.
Kirsten was the first to go for 29. Then followed Klusener at 117 for 26, then Rindel at 121 for a dashing 59 made in 66 deliveries. Cronje came in and threatened to take the bowling apart like he did in the second test hitting 2 huge sixes . But his slog sweep failed to connect a third time and he was well held by Aravinda at mid wicket for 22. He went at 160. The followed Cullinan at 169 for 24 and Kallis the century maker against Pakistan went for 5 at 172. Then followed a stand of 46 for the seventh wicket between Rhodes and Crookes.
Crookes went at 218 for 26 and it was then left to that man for all seasons Jonty Rhodes to bat in his own inimitable style and take his side to 266. Rhodes remained unbeaten on 43. Boucher went for 6 and Elworthy was 14 not out.
Hashan, Nuwan return home
Two members of the Sri Lanka cricket team currently touring South Africa - Hashan Tillekeratne and Nuwan Zoysa returned home yesterday.
Zoysa who was called up as a replacement for the injured Chaminda Vaas for the second Test against South Africa at Centurion Park last week, broke down after delivering two overs in the second innings with a knee injury. Efforts to get him fit by the team physio Alex Kountouri proved futile and he was forced to return home.
Tillekeratne, whose selection for the tour came for heavy criticism from the press failed to live upto expectations averaging 22.50 in the Test series. He returns home as his services will not be required for the one-day tournament.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Mario Villavarayen has been put on standby in case Vaas, who is not 100 percent fit, fails to go through the entire tournament. - [S.T.]