Tour Match: Nicky Oppenheimer XI v Sri Lankans at Randjesfontein, 7 Dec 2000 CricInfo Live Report

Tour Match: Nicky Oppenheimer XI v Sri Lankans at Randjesfontein, 7 Dec 2000
Peter Robinson

Nicky Oppenheimer XI 1st innings: Sri Lanka draw first match,
Sri Lankans 1st innings: Lankans 170 for three, Sri Lanka declare at 296 for six,
Pre-game: Sri Lanka batting,

HALL LASHES LANKANS BEFORE BAD LIGHT ENDS GAME

Bad light stopped play less than 11 overs into the Nicky Oppenheimer XI innings at Randjesfontein on Thursday, but not before Andrew Hall had launched a furious attack on the Sri Lankan bowlers in the opening match of their South African tour.

When the players came off, the NFO XI had scored 80 for no wicket in 10.4 overs with Hall claiming 61 of them. He hammered 10 fours and a six off just 41 deliveries with Mark Bruyns at the other end adding 11 as the home team made a spirited attempted to chase down Sri Lanka’s 296 for six.

Hall was particularly severe on Dilhara Fernando who was hit out of the attack after conceding 26 in his first two overs and Chaminda Vaas fared little better, going for 41 in five overs.

But with a storm brewing over the Highveld and lightning flashing around the ground, the umpires called the players off the field 4.30pm and the match was abandoned as a draw 30 minutes later as rain began to fall.

FOUR FIFTIES AS SRI LANKA DECLARE AT 296 FOR SIX

Four Sri Lankan batsmen made fifties before the tourists declared at 296 for six in their one-day game against a Nicky Oppenheimer XI at Randjesfontein near Johannesburg on Thursday.

After Sanath Jayasuriya (66) and Marvan Attapattu (52) had both made half-centuries before the lunch break, Mahela Jayawardena fashioned an attractive 70 and Russel Arnold hit 53 in the afternoon session.

Jayawardena was caught in the covers when he skied a drive off Zander de Bruyn and Arnold retired after reaching his 50.

The last wicket to fall was Romesh Kaluwitheran, caught at mid on off Pietie Koortzen and with his dismissal Jayasuriya declared the innings close.

An early tea was taken.

FIFTIES FOR JAYASURIYA AND ATTAPATTU

Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Attapattu, captain and vice captain of the Sri Lanka respectively, made a solid start to their South African tour with a century opening stand in the one-day match against a Nicky Oppenheimer XI at Randjesfontein north of Johannesburg today. At lunch the Sri Lankans were 170 for three off 36 overs.

The pair added 123 for the first wicket in exactly 25 overs after the Sri Lankans had batted first. Attapattu was first to go for 52 after batting for 95 minutes when he was caught at the wicket by Nic Pothas off Justin Kemp.

Two balls later Jayasuriya was caught at deep cover by Justin Ontong off Zander de Bruyn for 66. Jayasuriya’s played a characteristically entertaining innings, carving out 10 fours and two sixes off an attack made up of some of the most promising of South Africa’s young bowlers.

Kumar Sangakkara made 18 before he was caught at the wicket off Charl Langeveldt at 164 for three and at lunch Mahela Jayawardena was not out on 22 with Russel Arnold on 2.

SRI LANKA BATTING IN RANDJESFONTEIN

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat in their friendly one-day game against a Nicky Oppenheimer XI at Randjesfontein north of Johannesburg on Thursday.

The match is not being played according to normal one-day regulations and there is no restriction on how many overs each team should face or bowlers may bowl.

The match is the first game of Sri Lanka’s South African tour.

Teams

NFO XI: Mark Bruyns, Andrew Hall, James Bryant, Justin Kemp, Pieter Koortzen, Zander de Bruyn, Nic Pothas, Justin Ontong, Jonathan Oppenheimer (capt), Charl Langeveldt, Victor Mpitsang.

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Attapattu, Mahela Jayawardena, Russel Arnold, Kumar Sangakkara, Thillakerathne Dilshan, Romesh Kaluwitherana, Muttiah Muralitheran, Chaminda Vaas, Promedya Wickramasinghe, Randi Fernando.