The two day warm up match between the Sri Lanka Board XI and the touring South Africans concluded at the P. Sara Oval today(8).
>>South Africa bank on pace for triumph in spin-friendly Sri Lanka<<
The visitors resuming on 17/1 got off to a good start with Dean Elgar stroking a cluster of boundaries before he was dismissed for a 48 ball 43. Hashim Amla looked in good nick as well making 78 before the South African management decided to call him back in order to offer the other batsmen time in the middle.
Temba Bavuma made use of the opportunity stroking a vital half century to strengthen his case to be picked in the vacant no. 4 slot owned by the now retired South African legend AB de Villiers.
Skipper Faf du Plesis also looked in the form of his life hitting a 85 ball 79 which included 13 fours and a towering six as the Proteas top order looked at ease against a rookie Sri Lankan spin attack.
Sri Lanka cap Wanindu Hasaranga had his moments capturing 3/72 while the promising left arm tweaker Lasith Embuldeniya toiled hard to pick up 2/83. Dhananjaya de Silva also bowled his part time off spin picking up two wickets as the South African lower order looked to up the ante towards the latter part of their innings.
>>Sri Lanka squad announced for South Africa Tests<<
The South Africans were eventually bowled out for 338 as the two captains du Plesis and Angelo Mathews decided to shake hands to bring a premature end to the match.
The South Africans will have concerns about their no. 6,7 & 8 positions in the batting order, with Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn & Vernon Philander failing to impress.
Sri Lanka will host South Africa in the first Test on the 12th of July at the Galle International cricket stadium.
.){kind=link}