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SA through with five in a row
By Marlon Fernandopulle
South Africa A once again proved their credentials when they swamped New Zealand A by six wickets in the final at the SSC grounds yesterday to win the triangular tournament which also featured hosts Sri Lanka.

It was the fifth successive win for the South Africa A team in the limited over tournament and a remarkable comeback after they went down to Sri Lanka A 1-0 in the two unofficial tests played earlier.

The Kiwis who were invited to take first lease on a good batting wicket were curtailed by the South Africans and were made to work hard for their runs. They lost early wickets and were 90 for the loss of 4 wickets midway in their innings. However opener Michael Paps stood his ground and held the fragile New Zealand batting together with some delightful strokes on both sides of the wicket. Together with veteran Chris Harris (33), Paps added 67 runs for the 5th wicket and a further 48 runs for the sixth wicket with Gareth Hopkins (28) that helped the Kiwis to pass the 200 run mark. Opener Paps went on to compile an unbeaten century and remained unbeaten on 116 as the Kiwis ended on 216 for the loss of seven wickets. Paps struck seven boundaries and a six in his 129 ball innings.

Needing to score just over four runs an over South Africa slipped to 37 for two wickets before skipper Jacques Rudolph joined opener L. Bosman (48) and defied the Kiwis with a useful 78 run stand for the third wicket that paved the way for a South African victory. With the exit of Bosman (115/3), Rudolph was joined by Justin Ontong and the pair continued in the same vein to accumulate runs freely and take the South Africans closer to their target.

However with the total on 168 skipper Rudolph edged a delivery from Franklyn and was snapped up by the wicket keeper. Rudolph stroked eight boundaries in his 58 ball knock. Despite losing their skipper at a crucial time the South Africans were unruffled as Ontong (54 n o) and Zander De Bryn (17 n o) put on an unbroken 47 run stand for the 5th wicket to ensure that the South Africans reached their target with ease, in the 43rd over.

New Zealand A -216/7 in 50 overs (Michael Paps 116 n o, Chris Harris 33, Gareth Hopkins 28, Matthew Sinclair 17, Tyronne Henderson 3/25, Albie Markel 3/34)

South Africa A – 217/4 in 42.4 overs (L Bosman 48, Jacques Rudolph 68, Justin Ontong 54 n o, Zander de Bryn 17 n o, James Franklyn 2/35)

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