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COLOMBO, July 24: South Africa were held to a draw in their three-day tour match against Sri Lanka ‘A’ on Monday but coach Micky Arthur was pleased with the work-out ahead of a two-Test series.
South Africa, who had gained a huge 303-run first innings lead, reached 245-8 in their second innings before declaring at tea on the final day.
Set an improbable target of 549, Sri Lanka ‘A’ reached 89-1 by close.
South Africa decided not to declare earlier as coach Arthur did not want to push his bowlers too hard.
“We didn't want to spend more than 30-40 overs on the field. Scoring wasn't as easy as in the first innings and all we wanted was to give just seven-over spells for our bowlers to get their rhythm,” said Arthur.
“There was no point in going flat-out with the Test just two days away,” he added.
South Africa shuffled their batting order, sending A.B. de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Ashwell Prince and Nicky Boje ahead of Hashim Amla and Jacques Rudolph, who had made hundreds in the first innings.
De Villiers top-scored with 75 while Rudolph got 58, adding 78 for the eighth wicket with Andre Nel (20 not out).
Leg-spinner Upul Chandana bagged 3-80.
Scoreboard
SOUTH ARICA (1st Innings) 465-4 declared (J.A. Rudolph 157, H.M. Amla 150, A.G. Prince 50 not out, A.B. de Villiers 50 not out).
SRI LANKA ‘A’ (1st Innings) 162 (U.D.U. Chandana 51 not out; A. Nel 4-39).
SOUTH AFRICA (2nd Innings, overnight 43-1):
H.H. Gibbs b Perera 10
H.H. Dippenaar lbw b Zoysa 25
A.B. de Villiers b Mubarak 75
M.V. Boucher c J’wardene b Zoysa 8
A.G. Prince c S’weera b Chandana 20
N. Boje lbw b Chandana 5
H.M. Amla b Chandana 5
J.A. Rudolph lbw b Mubarak 58
A. Nel not out 20
EXTRAS (LB-1, W-3, NB-15) 19
TOTAL (for eight wkts decl, 63.4 overs) 245
FALL OF WKTS: 1-25, 2-55, 3-77, 4-136, 5-153, 6-159, 7-167, 8-245.
BOWLING: Zoysa 9-0-29-2 (2nb, 1w); Perera 8-0-45-1 (8nb, 2w); Ganegama 8-2-33-0; Chandana 22-1-80-3 (2nb); Mubarak 12.4-2-44-2 (2nb); Samaraweera 4-0-13-0 (1nb).
SRI LANKA ‘A’ (2nd Innings):
M.G. Vandort not out 29
D.A. Gunawardene st Boucher b Boje 37
C.K. Kapugedera not out 11
EXTRAS (LB-5, W-5, NB-2) 12
TOTAL (for one wkt, 20 overs) 89
FALL OF WKT: 1-72.
BOWLING: Ntini 5-2-21-0 (2nb); Steyn 5-2-15-0; Boje 5-1-27-1; Nel 4-1-21-0 (5w); de Villiers 1-1-0-0.
RESULT: Match drawn.
UMPIRES: S.S.K. Gallage and C.B.C. Rodrigo.—Agencies
