27.9.2008
Upul Tharanga’s big hundred outweighed Gulam Bodi’s
century to give Sri Lanka A a 26-run victory and a 2-1 lead
after the third ODI against South Africa A in East London,
on Thursday.
Upul Tharanga smashed a career-best 173 as he carried his
bat on a placid track. He laid the ideal platform with Tharanga
Paranavitana by adding 91 at a run-a-ball for the first
wicket. He was involved in three other vital partnerships,
including 95 off 70 balls for the second wicket with Dilruwan
Perera.
Faced with a target of 336, Bodi began with an assault on
Sri Lankan fast bowler Suranga Lakmal, who gave away 36
runs in his first three overs. The opening stand of 87 with
captain Alviro Petersen provided a solid start, but with
six of the South African batsmen managing only single-digit
scores, Bodi was left with too much to do.
Wicketkeeper Heino Kuhn and Vaughn van Jaarsveld provide
some support, but fast bowler Ishara Amerasinghe ripped
through the middle order to dampen South Africa’s
chances. The hosts’ troubles were compounded when
Bodi was bowled by left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, the
most successful of the Sri Lankan bowlers with four wickets,
soon after bringing up his 150 with a six. Bodi was the
eighth man out. By then, the asking-rate had climbed to
almost 12, a rate the tail-enders were unable to keep up
with.
The last match in the series will be played on Sunday.
SCOREBOARD
Sri Lanka A
U. Tharanga not out 173
T. Paranavitana b Smit 39
K. Perera lbw b Theron 44
T. Kandamby c Theron b Parnell 30
D. Gunawardene not out 34
Extras (b 1, lb 2, w 11, nb 1) 15
Total (3 wickets; 50 overs) 335
Did not bat: M. Rupasinghe, K. Silva, B. Herath, S. Lakmal,
A. Welegedara and I. Amerasinghe
Fall of wickets:1-91, 2-186, 3-249
Bowling: Louw 10-1-63-0, Abdullah 6-0-48-0, Theron 9-0-63-1,
Davids 5-0-49-0,
Smit 6-0-26-1, Parnell 9-0-54-1, Elgar 5-0-29-0
South Africa A
H Bodi b Herath 153
N Petersen c Bandara b Herath 39
H. Davids run out 1
D. Elgar lbw b Perera 1
G. Kuhn run out 28
B. van Jaarsveld c G’wardene b A’singhe 41
J. Louw b Amerasinghe 1
D. Smit c Silva b Amerasinghe 3
D. Parnell b Herath 8
J. Theron c Lakmal b Herath 15
A. Abdullah not out 0
Extras (b 5, lb 5, w 4, nb 5) 19
Total (all out; 47.5 overs) 309
Fall of wickets: 1-87, 2-90, 3-100, 4-161, 5-241, 6-244,
7-263, 8-289, 9-309, 10-309
Bowling: Welegedara 9-2-61-0, Lakmal 9-0-55-0, Perera 10-0-49-1,
Herath 6.5-0-48-4,
Amerasinghe 10-0-67-3, Paranavitana 3-0-19-0
Toss: Sri Lanka A, who chose to bat first
Series: Sri Lanka A lead 5-match series 2-1
Man of the match: Upul Tharanga (SL)
Umpires: S. George and J. Smith
Match referee: H. Mall
Courtesy - The Island |