Lanka win warm up against South Africa

Sri Lanka’s senior most batsman Sanath Jayasuriya paved the way for the victory with a well timed knock of 46.

The Lankans made it good in their quest for the Twenty-20 World Cup when they scored a convincing five wickets win over the strong South Africans in a warm-up match at Sedgars Park, Potchefstroom, yesterday.

Sri Lanka led by two good knocks from veteran Sanath Jayasuriya (46 in 34 balls) and Mahela Jayawardena (37 not out in 21 balls) saw Sri Lanka scoring 162 for 5 in 18.5 overs after South Africa were restricted to 161 for 9 in 20 overs.

For South Africa skipper Graeme Smith top scored with 46, but it was Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga who stole the show by sending down 3 overs for just 10 runs. The highest wicket taker for Sri Lanka was young Farveez Maharoof who bagged 3 for 31 in his quota of four overs.

Sri Lanka lost opener Upul Tharanga (4) and rookie No.3 Dilruwan Perera (0) cheaply, but Sanath Jayasuriya batted along with the middle order in his 34 balls stay to steady the ship and put Sri Lanka on course for victory.

After the departure of the senior most Lankan batsman Jayasuriya, Chamara Silva and T.M. Dilshan batted along with their skipper Jayawardena to see them through.

South Africa 161 for 9 in 20 overs (Graeme Smith 46, A.B. de Villiers 18, Justin Kemp 32, J.A. Morkel 28 not out; Chaminda Vaas 1 for 25, Farveez Maharoof 3 for 31, Gayan Wijekoon 1 for 35, Kaushal Lokuarachchi 1 for 25, Lasith Malinga 2 for 10)

Sri Lanka 162 for 5 in 18.5 overs (Sanath Jayasuriya 46, Kumar Sangakkara 18, Mahela Jayawardena 37 not out, Chamara Silva 16, T.M. Dilshan 22 not out, Shaun Pollock 1 for 9, M. Ntini 1 for 20, V.D. Philander 1 for 22, T. Shabalala 2 for 26)