Vandort helps put President's XI on top

Sri Lanka Cricket President's XI 251 and 123 for 1 (Vandort 73*) lead South Africans 226 (Rudolph 49) by 148 runs
Scorecard

The South Africans may have made a bright start to their tour of Sri Lanka with the ball, but their batting didn't quite go to plan today. They were all out for 226 in their first innings against the Sri Lanka Cricket President's XI in Colombo, with Jacques Rudolph top-scoring with 49. The President's XI then closed on 123 for 1, with Michael Vandort racing to 73 not out.

The loss of Graeme Smith and Andrew Puttick late last night didn't help the South Africans' cause, but, resuming at 34 for 2, the rest of the innings never really got going. Jacques Kallis was caught by Vandort off Rangana Herath for 18 before Rudolph and Martin van Jaarsveld put on 58 together.

However, just as the innings was starting to build some momentum, Tharanga Lakshitha had van Jaarsveld caught for 41. Dilhara Fernando and Thilan Samaraweera later picked up the scalps of Rudolph and Mark Boucher to peg the South Africans back.

Boeta Dippenaar and Shaun Pollock then clubbed together a recovery of sorts, putting on 67 before Pollock became Lakshitha's second victim, caught behind for 39. Lakshitha then bowled Lance Klusener for a duck, and Samaraweera polished off the tail.

Starting their second innings with a lead of 25, the President's XI had an early setback when Nishad Tharanga was dismissed by Nantie Hayward for 2, but it didn't deter Vandort. He clubbed ten fours and a six, and put on an unbroken stand of 107 with Russel Arnold to leave the South Africans trailing by 148 runs.