Gunawardene and Lakmal star in convincing win

Sri Lanka A 229 for 5 (Gunawardene 90) beat University of Sports South Africa XI 167 (Sodumo 43, van Biljon 38, Lakmal 5-38) by 62 runs
Scorecard

Sri Lanka A warmed up for their five-match one-day series against South Africa A with a convincing 62-run win over University Sports South Africa XI (USSA) at Sinovich Park. Kanchana Gunawardene's 90 guided Sri Lanka to 229 for 5 and the total was more than sufficient to challenge USSA as they folded for 167. Suranga Lakmal, the right-arm seamer, shone with the ball, finishing with a five-wicket haul.

Thilina Kandamby chose to bat and his openers responded with a stand of 59 before Upul Tharanga was run-out by a direct hit from Pumelelo Matshikwe for a brisk 39 off 43 balls. Gunawardene was involved in stands of 58 and 46 for the second and third wickets respectively, and carried on till the penultimate over. He was run out ten short of his hundred, and his knock came off 125 balls, with five fours and a six.

USSA, in reply, failed to get any meaty partnerships going at the top and lost three wickets before the 10th over. Petrus van Biljon and Abongile Sodumo resisted with a stand of 69 for the fourth wicket but that was the only passage of play when the home side held the initiative. When Sodumo was dismissed for 43, run out by Gunawardene, USSA had lost half their side for 139. Lakmal, after claiming the openers, returned to clean up the lower order to finish with 5 for 38. Rangana Herath, the left-arm spinner, picked up 2 for 23. USSA also missed the services of their captain, Richard das Neves who did not bat due to a right-hand injury.

The Sri Lankans take on South Africa A at Potchefstroom on Friday for the first of five one-dayers.