Bjorn Fortuin took 6-99 to put SA Emerging in a strong position on day two of the first four-day match.
Day two started off poorly for the South African Emerging side, losing three wickets for just one run. Star performer Jason Smith was clean bowled for 124, followed by Fortuin and Tshepo Ntuli both going out for a duck by the fourth ball of the day.
Patrick Kruger fought hard to earn his half-century, but his partner Ngazibini Sigwili could not hold on much longer, being bowled out for six runs in the 95th over. Kruger on 59 was the last man standing as Sri Lanka Emerging went in to bat at 394-9. Amila Aponso was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka, posting 5-95 in 31.1 overs.
The visitors got off to a great start with Sandun Weerakkody (44) and Hashan Dumindu (20) amassing 76 runs in 10 overs before the first wicket fell. Dumindu was sent packing by Fortuin for 20. This did not stop Weerakkody, who continued to fight despite losing partners in quick succession. Sadheera Samarawickreme went shortly after Weekrakkody made his half-century, and it seemed to rattle the opener as he fell shortly after that posting a final score 56 runs off 54 balls.
The partnership between Rumesh Buddika and Lahiru Milantha got Sri Lanka past the 100-run mark, before an excellent piece of bowling by Fortuin trapped Milantha lbw for 19.
Wickets continued to fall as Angelo Jayasinghe went for zero and Buddika for 15 leaving the visitors on 126-6 by the 27th over.
Anuk Fernando gave the Sri Lankans hope, scoring a brave 39 until he too was trapped lbw by Fortuin, the South African bowler acting as the destroyer for his side. Sanjaya Chathuranga and Aponso spiked the run rate quite quickly, scoring some important boundaries between them until Aponso was bowled by Sigwili for 24 in the 53rd over.
Shehan Madushanka supported Chathuranga to his half century and it looked like they could take the visitors close to SA’s first-innings total until Fortuin once again spoilt the party taking his sixth wicket of the day trapping Madushanka lbw after a solid 31 runs off 30 balls.
Day two ended with the dangerous Madushanka on 74, Sri Lanka posting 299-9 at stumps.
Bjorn Fortuin was formidable with the ball taking 6-99 as South Africa Emerging will look to bowl Sri Lanka out with runs to spare on day three on Tuesday.
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
