Sri Lanka A lose first tour match

Potchefstroom: Sri Lanka A lost their first tour match when they opened their five weeks tour with a six-wicket defeat at the North West Stadium by a combined side made up of Free State, North West and Griqualand West players.

The three-day game ended late on the final afternoon after the Combined XI recovered from a poor start to their second innings on Tuesday. Although their required target was only 94 the Combined XI slid alarmingly to 37 for four before skipper Nicky Boje steered his side to victory with an unbeaten 39. With solid support from Glen Hewitt, Boje went after the Sri Lanka A bowlers as he hammered six fours and a big six over long-on.

For the Lankans, who recovered for their first innings set back with TM Dilshan propping up the top-order, it was a far better batting performance although the North West fast bowler Jannie Dreyer earned five wickets for 81 to dismiss the tourists for 264.

Dilshan narrowly missed his century when, on 96, he drove wide at a Dreyer delivery and was caught behind by Wendell Bossenger. Dilshan was helped by the former Lanka A captain Sajith Fernando with a sound innings of 55 and all-rounder Nimesh Perera with 44.

Sri Lanka A were shot out in their first innings for 99 to which the Combined XI had replied with 270 for eight declared.

The tourists will need to put together a better performance this weekend when they play a combined Gauteng/Northerns XI at the Wanderers.