Lahiru Udara Maintains SA ‘A’ With Half-Century. Cricket enthusiasts around the world were treated to an intense showdown as Sri Lanka A (SL ‘A’) and South Africa A (SA ‘A’) clashed in the second and final unofficial Test at Willowmoore Park in Benoni. Lahiru Udara emerged as the hero for Sri Lanka A, with a gritty half-century that played a pivotal role in anchoring his team on a rain-affected day two of the match. Despite challenging conditions, Udara’s resilience and skill kept his side in the game, ensuring that the match was still evenly poised.
Udara’s Unbeaten Half-Century on Day Two
The second day of the match saw significant action as Udara displayed his prowess at the crease. His unbeaten 61 off 110 balls, which included 10 boundaries, stood as a testament to his focus and ability to handle pressure. Udara’s innings was crucial as the visitors fought back from early setbacks, and by the time bad light and rain forced an early end to proceedings, Sri Lanka A had reached 134 for two, closing in on South Africa A’s first-innings total.
Sri Lanka A trailed by just 200 runs at this point, and with Udara still at the crease, their hopes of taking control of the match were very much alive. Udara’s efforts were well-supported by captain Pasindu Sooriyabandara, who added an unbeaten 43 to help stabilize the innings after the early loss of wickets.
South Africa A’s Early Dominance
The day had begun with South Africa A in a commanding position. They resumed their innings with captain Neil Brand still at the crease, having played a patient and determined knock on day one. Brand, unbeaten on 122 overnight, looked set to lead his team to a commanding total. However, the visiting bowlers had other ideas. Eshan Malinga, one of Sri Lanka A’s star seamers, claimed Brand’s wicket early on day two, dismissing him for 129 off 253 balls. Brand’s knock included 12 fours and one six, but his dismissal triggered a collapse in the South African lower order.
Prenelan Subrayen and Migael Pretorius both fell cheaply as South Africa A’s innings came to a premature end at 334. Isitha Wijesundera was instrumental in cleaning up the tail, taking two wickets and leaving the South Africans ruing their missed opportunity to build a more substantial lead.
Sri Lanka A’s Fightback Begins
With 334 runs on the board, South Africa A’s seamers knew that early wickets would be key in putting Sri Lanka A under pressure. Beyers Swanepoel and Mihlali Mpongwana answered the call, with Swanepoel dismissing Nuwanidu Fernando for just 11, and Mpongwana accounting for Pavan Rathnayake, who was out for 15.
At 57 for two, Sri Lanka A looked vulnerable, and South Africa A would have been confident of making further inroads. However, Udara and Sooriyabandara had other ideas. The duo dug in, playing smart cricket to repel the South African bowlers. Their partnership of 77 runs for the third wicket proved to be crucial, as it stabilized the innings and ensured that Sri Lanka A remained within touching distance of the hosts’ total.
Udara’s Century Leads Sri Lanka A’s Charge on Day Three
As the match progressed to day three, Sri Lanka A’s fortunes continued to improve, largely thanks to Udara’s brilliance with the bat. Resuming from their overnight score of 134 for two, Udara and his team displayed patience and skill to work their way towards a respectable total. Udara, in particular, stood tall, notching up his 12th first-class century in a commanding display of batting.
Udara’s 129 runs came off 192 balls, and his innings was punctuated by 16 boundaries and a six. His ability to rotate the strike and find the gaps made life difficult for the South African bowlers, who struggled to contain him. Sooriyabandara, meanwhile, played an excellent supporting role, falling just short of his own century with a well-made 92 off 166 balls.
The Sri Lankan pair’s efforts took the team to 319 all out, a mere 15 runs short of South Africa A’s first-innings total. The balanced performance ensured that the match remained finely poised, with all three results still possible heading into the final stages.
South Africa A Responds in Their Second Innings
With only a slender 15-run lead, South Africa A knew they needed to bat well in their second innings to put pressure back on Sri Lanka A. The South Africans got off to a decent start, reaching 112 for three by the end of day three. However, Sri Lanka A’s bowlers were once again able to pick up key wickets at crucial moments, preventing the hosts from building any significant momentum.
Prenelan Subrayen was the standout performer with the ball for South Africa A in Sri Lanka’s first innings. His figures of six for 64 were a testament to his skill and consistency, and he will be a key figure for the hosts as they look to press home their advantage in the remaining days of the match.
The Importance of Lahiru Udara’s Performance
Lahiru Udara’s performance in this match cannot be understated. His innings of 129 in the first innings, combined with his crucial half-century on day two, were vital in keeping Sri Lanka A in the contest. Udara’s ability to handle pressure and adapt to different match situations made him the standout player of the match, and his contributions with the bat were the backbone of Sri Lanka A’s efforts.
Udara has established himself as one of Sri Lanka’s most promising batting talents, and his performances in this unofficial Test series will only enhance his reputation. His technique, temperament, and ability to play long innings have marked him out as a player with a bright future, and it will be interesting to see how he continues to develop in the years to come.
South Africa A Squad for the Series
South Africa A’s squad for the four-day matches against Sri Lanka A was a balanced mix of experience and youth. The team was led by Neil Brand, who played a captain’s knock of 129 in the first innings of the second Test, and included several promising players such as Dewald Brevis and Migael Pretorius. The complete squad is as follows:
- Neil Brand (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans)
- Marques Ackerman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins)
- Matthew Breetzke (Dafabet Warriors)
- Dewald Brevis (Momentum Multiply Titans)
- Tshepang Dithole (Hollywoodbets Dolphins)
- Jean du Plessis (Dafabet Warriors)
- Patrick Kruger (Dafabet Warriors)
- Rivaldo Moonsamy (Momentum Multiply Titans)
- Mihlali Mpongwana (World Sports Betting Western Province)
- Migael Pretorius (North West Dragons)
- Sinethemba Qeshile (Dafabet Warriors)
- Lutho Sipamla (DP World Lions)
- Prenelan Subrayen (Hollywoodbets Dolphins)
- Beyers Swanepoel (Dafabet Warriors)
- Codi Yusuf (DP World Lions)
Conclusion
As the match heads into its final stages, both teams will feel they are still in with a chance of securing victory. Sri Lanka A will be buoyed by the performances of Lahiru Udara and Pasindu Sooriyabandara, both of whom played key roles in ensuring their team remained competitive.
