By Chris Dhambarage and Asoka Jayakody
THE TOURING South Africa 'A' team dominated the opening day of the second 4-day Unofficial Test match against the Sri Lanka 'A' team which began at the Welagedera Stadium, Kurunegala yesterday.
The home side collapsed to 181 for 8 in their first innings after having won the toss and decided to bat first. This was mainly due to some superb hostile bowling from Allen Dawson and Garry Gilder who exploited the conditions to good affect.
In fact Dawson ran through the entire Sri Lankan top order and finished with the excellent figures of 4 for 37. The medium paceman captured three wickets during the first session and reduced the opposition to 51 for 4 at lunch.
Good recovery
Sri Lanka 'A' made a good recovery during the second session with Manoj Mendis and Malintha Warnapura adding 58 runs for the fifth wicket. Left-hander Warnapura in particular, batted quite determinedly and was unfortunate to have missed a well-deserved half century. His knock of 46 included three boundaries and occupied the crease for 154 minutes. He was also associated in a sixth-wicket stand of 45 runs with wicketkeeper T. M. Dilshan.
Manoj Mendis too, batted well for his knock of 46 which included six boundaries. Test cap Chaminda Vaas and Tilan Samaraweera were shaping up well, but Vaas' innings was cut short by a superb running catch by skipper Dale Benkenstein.
Journalists covering the second 4-day Unofficial Test match between South Africa 'A' and Sri Lanka 'A' teams came in for a surprise when they found there was no scorer at the press box at the Welagedera Stadium, Kurunegala.
When journalists informed the authorities about this matter and requested for a scorer, an official from the Kurunegala District Cricket Association (KDCA) did not hesitate to abuse them with vulgar language, causing severe harassment in the press box.
Day 2: Ackermann, Gibbs put South Africa in command
by Chris Dhambarage and Asoka Jayakody
Two fighting half centuries by test caps H. D. Ackerman and Herschelle Gibbs put South Africa 'A' in a commanding position on day two of the second four-day unofficial Test match against Sri Lanka 'A' played at the Welagedara Stadium, Kurunegala, yesterday.
The pair rescued their team with a century stand after having lost both openers with only 17 runs on the board. Sri Lanka 'A' struck twice through medium paceman Indika Gallage with the visitors collapsing to 33 for 2 at lunch.
But Ackerman and Gibbs got their act together and settled down to play a long innings under trying circumstances. Both survived a few anxious moments but opened out later and went on to complete two superb half centuries. Herschelle Gibbs was the first to complete his fifty and was unbeaten on 57 at tea. He reached his half century in 86 deliveries and included two sixes and six boundaries.
H. D. Ackerman too followed with his half century soon after the tea break with the help of six boundaries. He faced 135 deliveries and occupied the crease for 185 minutes. However heavy rain forced the players back into their dressing room at around 3.55 pm and nearly one hour of play was lost due to the bad weather.
Earlier the Sri Lankan pair of Chaminda Vaas and Indika Gallage produced some hostile bowling to put the visitors under some kind of pressure. Vaas making his first appearance in an international game after his recent knee operation, produced a lively opening spell of five overs. But it was his new ball partner Indika Gallage who succeeded by dismissing both openers before lunch.
Sri Lanka 'A' lost their remaining two wickets cheaply and were bowled out for a modest 196 after 40 minutes of batting time. Allen Dawson captured both wickets and finished with the excellent figures of 6 for 44.
Day 3: South Africa 'A' in with a chance
by Chris Dhambarage and Asoka Jayakody
Two magnificent centuries by H. D. Ackerman and Herschelle Gibbs put South Africa 'A' in with a chance of forcing a victory on day three of the Second 4-day Unofficial Test match against Sri Lanka 'A' played at the Welagedara Stadium, Kurunegala yesterday.
The pair lived upto expectations as the two most experienced players in the team by adding a massive 265 runs for the third wicket. This was a ground record for any partnership, erasing the previous best of 192 runs for the fifth wicket held by Hashan Tillekeratne (101) and Sanath Jayasuriya (93) for the Board XI against India in 1993. The pair also shattered the third wicket record of 101 runs held by Moin Khan and Javed Miandad of Pakistan against the Sri Lanka Colts XI in 1986.
In addition Herschelle Gibbs came closer to breaking the highest individual score of 168 compiled by his countryman G. Leibenberg at the Welagedara Stadium in 1995. But mere importantly he held the batting together and helped his team declare their first innings at 402 for 8. His marathon innings of 153 lasted for 404 minutes and included four sixes and 14 boundaries.
Sri Lanka 'A' who are trailing by 216 runs finished the day at 57 for no loss with Avishka Gunawardena smashing six boundaries.
Day 4: South Africa 'A' in innings victory
by Chris Dhambarage and Asoka Jayakody
The touring South Africa 'A' team pulled off an innings win over Sri Lanka 'A' on the fourth and final day of the second 4-day Unofficial Test concluded at the Welagedara Stadium, Kurunegala yesterday.
The home side collapsed for the second time in the game and were eventually dismissed for 202 runs against some accurate bowling from Allen Dawson, Derek Crookes and Nicky Boje.
The visitors completely dominated the day and their only concern was the weather which almost spoiled their chances of forcing a victory. Nearly 45 minutes of play was lost shortly before tea due to rain and at that stage Sri Lanka 'A' were struggling at 186 for 7.
Of the two medium pacemen Garry Gilder and Allen Dawson polished off the tail with some fine hostile bowling. They were well supported by the two spinners Derek Crookes and Nicky Boje who shared seven wickets between them.
Earlier Manoj Mendis and Malintha Warnapura made a desperate attempt to rescue their team with a fifth wicket stand of 54 runs. Both battled determinedly as they did in the first innings with Mendis compiling a fighting 48 inclusive of four boundaries.
Sri Lanka 'A' however made a promising start with the openers Avishka Gunawardena and Upeka Fernando adding 72 runs. The former completed a splendid half century in 65 deliveries with the help of eight boundaries. But they lost a couple of quick wickets and soon collapsed to 123 for 4 at lunch.
The South Africa 'A' coach Graham Ford later praised his bowlers Allen Dawson , Nicky Boje and Derek Crookes for a tremendous performance on the field. He also gave full marks to H. D. Ackerman and Hershelle Gibbs who compiled centuries in the first innings.