Lahiru Udara’s unbeaten half-century led the Sri Lanka A fightback on a shortened day two of the second four-day match against South Africa A in Benoni.
The opener hit 61* off 110 balls (10 fours) to lead the tourists to 134-2 when bad light and rain forced a premature end to proceedings after the tea interval.
It meant Sri Lanka A had closed to within 200 of the home side, who earlier lost their last three wickets for just 18 runs thanks to the visiting seamers.
The South Africans had resumed the second morning with captain Neil Brand still in the middle, unbeaten on his overnight 122, but he fell to Eshan Malinga (3-68) for 129 off 253 balls (12 fours, 1 six).
Prenelan Subrayen was then cleaned up by Isitha Wijesundera (2-60) for a duck, before Migael Pretorius fell to the same bowler for 19.
South Africa’s own seamers then accounted for two Sri Lankan wickets relatively cheaply.
Beyers Swanepoel (1-41) was first to strike when he had Nuwanidu Fernando caught by Tshepang Dithole for 11 and the miserly Mihlali Mpongwana (1-12) then got rid of Pavan Rathnayake (15).
At 57-2, the hosts would have felt confident. But captain Pasindu Sooriyabandara then walked in and struck an unbeaten 43 to repel the home side.
By the close he had added an unbroken 77 with Udara for the third wicket to leave the game in the balance at halfway.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
