A century by captain Neil Brand was crucial to South Africa A (SA ‘A’) posting 334 in their first innings of the second unofficial Test against Sri Lanka A (SL ‘A’) at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Sunday.
The left-hander carried his bat for 122 (243 balls, 11 fours, 1 six) to ensure his side was in a solid position in the series finale, reaching the close of play on Day 1 on 316-7. The match is a must-win encounter for the hosts after they lost the opening match by six wickets in Kimberley.
Apart from Brand, there were also starts for Tshepang Dithole (27), Marques Ackerman (37), Dewald Brevis (49) and Beyers Swanepoel (34) after the home side lost the toss and were asked to bat first.
The skipper, alongside Dithole, put on 41 for the opening wicket, before the South Africans lost the latter and Jean du Plessis (0) within the space of a run.
Ackerman then joined Brand for a third-wicket stand of 62, followed by the biggest partnership of the innings between Brevis and his captain that yielded 98 for the fourth wicket.
The home side may feel they then surrendered some of the initiative after slipping from 202 for three in the 53rd over to their eventual end-of-play score.
The other men to fall were Mihlali Mpongwana (12), Rivaldo Moonsamy (11) and Swanepoel, leaving Migael Pretorius (9*) keeping Brand company at the close.
Sri Lanka’s best bowler on the day was slow left-armer Sonal Dinusha, who bagged 3-48.
Day 2 saw Brand (129) help SA A to 326 adding seven runs to his overnight score, before he lost his wicket picking out the fielder at deep square leg.
Prenelan Subrayen was castled for a duck by Isitha Wijesundara.
Migael Pretorius tried going the attacking approach but he only added 19 before he found the short-cover fielder. Wijesundara picked up his second ending with 2-60.
South Africa A were all out for 334. They were in the middle for just 28 minutes of the 1st session on Day 2.
South Africa A Four-Day Squad against Sri Lanka A
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) and Codi Yusuf (DP World Lions).
Four-Day Matches
08 – 11 September at 10:00
South Africa A lost to Sri Lanka A by 6 wickets – Kimberley Oval, Kimberley
15 – 18 September at 10:00
South Africa A vs Sri Lanka A – Willowmoore Park, Benoni
