SL Pres XI v South Africa

Colombo: Sri Lankan Cricket Presidents XI v South Africans
South Africa ease to a draw

South Africa's first match on their tour of Sri Lanka ended in a draw today at the Colombo Cricket Club ground.

After conceding a first innings deficit of 25, and suffering in the heat after a Michael Vandort hundred, skipper Graeme Smith put a smile on the tourists faces with a captains knock of 85.

However after a Vandort's cracking century, and an eighty from Russel Arnold, there was little chance of a positive South African result, and the declaration was made this afternoon.

In conditions somewhat alien to the South Africans at this time of year, Makhaya Ntini and Mornantau Hayward enjoyed some match practice in the heat, Ntini picking up five wickets in the first innings.

There was also a South African debut for Andrew Puttick, but the left hander had a disappointing match at the top of the order.

Injured opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs' position is still up for grabs after Rudolph and Van Jaarsveld showed promise with well compiled fourties.

Sri Lankan Cricket Presidents XI 251
LPC Silva 68, Ntini 5-37
South Africans 226
Rudolph 49, CRD Fernando 3-42
Sri Lankan Cricket Presidents XI 286-3
Vandort 129, Arnold 83
South Africans 129-2
Smith 85*



Posted by RichardHi