The visiting Proteas Emerging unit decided to set 291 for victory on an enthralling final day against the Sri Lanka Emerging team. The hosts accepted the challenge but eventually fell short by 31 runs after making a good feast of it to salvage a draw.
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The South Africa Emerging team resuming their innings on 342/6 on the fourth and final day, decided to declare their innings on 393/6 setting the hosts 291 to win in 75 overs on a challenging surface which had already produced plenty of runs in Hambantota.
The home team seemed like they were playing for a draw and were soon reduced to 124/4 in their run chase, before the free flowing Sammu Ashan walked in at no. 6 with other ideas. Ashan who was involved in a crucial first innings stand with centurion Charith Asalanka, dominated the Proteas bowlers from the word go.
He had a reliable partner in Pathum Nissanka who seemed to have the calm head to carry the hosts to an improbable win, but the dismissal of Nissanka for 62 and the Sri Lankan score on 236, sparked a dramatic collapse where Sri Lanka Emerging lost 08/4 to be reduced to 244/8 with 8 overs to go.
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One of the four wickets to fall was also the key scalp of Sammu Ashan who hit a superb run-a-ball 71 inclusive of 12 fours and a six. It seemed a matter of time before the visitors completed a dramatic come-from-behind win, before some stubborn resistance from lower order batsmen Nisala Tharaka and Jeffrey Vandersay made sure the hosts salvaged a draw.
Nandre Burger and Eathan Bosch were impressive with the ball picking up 3 wickets apiece, but their efforts were not rewarded as the hosts held on to a draw to clinch the two match series 1-0.
