The Sri Lanka ODI squad, inspired by several new faces, beat the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Invitation XI convincingly by 6 wickets today. The only practice match for the visitors before the ODI series against South Africa was played at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.
Captain of the home team, 22-year old Marques Ackerman won the toss and elected to bat first. The first half of the match was a one to forget for the tourists as they were hit for 304 runs in 50 overs.
History makers of Test cricket arrive in Sri Lanka
Opener Raynard van Tonder amassed 164 runs scoring more than 50% of the runs for CSA Invitation XI. His 164 came in just 156 deliveries including 13 fours and 5 sixes. The second highest run-scorer for the home boys was their skipper Ackerman, who was involved in a 91-run opening stand with Tonder, scoring 42 runs.
In bowling for Sri Lanka, skipper Lasith Malinga picked up 5 wickets for 35 runs in 7 overs. His 5 wickets consisted of 2 wickets in the 18th over and 3 wickets in the 48th over. His initial double blow destroyed the host’s good start and the strikes towards the end of the innings prevented them from getting anything beyond 310.
Photos : Sri Lanka vs South Africa Invitation XI – Tour Match 2019
Sharing the new ball with Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha picked up 2 wickets in his comeback spell after the 30th over. All-rounder Thisara Perera and chinaman Lakshan Sandakan were expensive, despite picking up a wicket apiece.
Mendis has got something special about him – Steve Rixon
Interestingly Akila Dananjaya, returning after serving a suspension, was not used in this match. Angelo Perera also grabbed a wicket with his part-time left-arm spin.
Sri Lanka’s run-chase kicked-off in flying style as veteran Upul Tharanga and returning Avishka Fernando added 127 runs for the first wicket in just 12.5 overs. Sri Lanka’s regular opener in limited overs Cricket, Vice-Captain Niroshan Dickwella did not bat in this match as the pair who had a successful Unofficial ODI series against Ireland ‘A’ were given the opportunity to open.
Avishka continued his red-hot form scoring 72 runs in just 46 deliveries while Tharanga missed out on a half-century by just 5 runs. Following the dismissal of both the openers, Kusal Mendis and Oshada Fernando, the pair who guided Sri Lanka to a historic Test win in Port Elizabeth, added 110 runs for the 3rd wicket. The stand was eventually broken when Oshada was retired out after a blistering knock of 63 in just 48 deliveries.
My plan was to attack Steyn and Rabada – Oshada Fernando
After Mendis’ dismissal for 47 runs Kamindu Mendis and Priyamal Perera, both uncapped in ODIs, put on an unbeaten stand of 58 to take Sri Lanka past the winning line. Kamindu remained unbeaten on 26 while Perera was unbeaten on 31.
The first ODI between Sri Lanka and South Africa is scheduled to be played on the 3rd of March at Johannesburg.
Full Scorecard
South Africa Board XI
304/10
(48 overs)
Result
Sri Lanka
307/4
(41 overs)
SL won by 6 wickets
South Africa Board XI’s Innings
| Batting | R | B | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raynard van Tonder | c V Fernando b L Malinga | 164 | 156 | |||
| Marques Ackerman | c K Mendis b L Sandakan | 42 | 50 | |||
| Tshepang Dithole | lbw by L Malinga | 0 | 1 | |||
| Sibonelo Makhanya | c T Perera b L Malinga | 0 | 1 | |||
| Leus du Plooy | c O Fernando b A Perera | 36 | 29 | |||
| Wandile Makwetu | b K Rajitha | 1 | 5 | |||
| Eathan Bosch | b K Rajitha | 6 | 8 | |||
| Kyle Simmonds | b T Perera | 28 | 26 | |||
| Gregory Mahlokwana | not out | 7 | 10 | |||
| Thandolwethu Mnyaka | b L Malinga | 0 | 2 | |||
| Okuhle Cele | lbw by L Malinga | 0 | 1 | |||
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avishka Fernando | 6 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 5.17 |
| Kasun Rajitha | 6 | 0 | 36 | 2 | 6.00 |
| Thisara Perera | 8 | 1 | 56 | 1 | 7.00 |
| Lakshan Sandakan | 8 | 0 | 65 | 1 | 8.13 |
| Lasith Malinga | 7 | 0 | 35 | 5 | 5.00 |
| Kamindu Mendis | 7 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 6.43 |
| Angelo Perera | 5 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 4.80 |
| Oshada Fernando | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8.00 |
Sri Lanka’s Innings
| Batting | R | B | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avishka Fernando | c K Simmonds b O Cele | 72 | 46 | |||
| Upul Tharanga | c W Makwetu b O Cele | 45 | 34 | |||
| Kusal Mendis | b S Makhanya | 47 | 45 | |||
| Oshada Fernando | not out | 63 | 48 | |||
| Kamindu Mendis | not out | 26 | 35 | |||
| Priyamal Perera | not out | 31 | 39 | |||
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eathan Bosch | 6 | 1 | 51 | 0 | 8.50 |
| Thandolwethu Mnyaka | 5 | 0 | 50 | 0 | 10.00 |
| Gregory Mahlokwana | 7 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 8.00 |
| Okuhle Cele | 6 | 0 | 37 | 2 | 6.17 |
| Kyle Simmonds | 10 | 0 | 62 | 0 | 6.20 |
| Sibonelo Makhanya | 6 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 5.83 |
| Leus du Plooy | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8.00 |