Tabraiz Shamsi took five wickets in the Proteas’ two-day warm-up match in Colombo and presented a strong case for an extra spinner for the first Test.
The Proteas tested out the P Sara Oval track in Sri Lanka on Saturday by selecting both Titans spinners in their lineup. Shamsi was joined by Shaun von Berg in what seemed to be a trial run for both players ahead of the first Test on 12 July.
Although the first Test will be played in Galle, the Proteas bowlers proved how conducive the conditions are for spinners by bowling Sri Lanka out for 287.
Shamsi, who finished with figures of 5-45, was aided by Von Berg (2-82), while a wicket from part-time spinner Dean Elgar confirmed the spinner-friendly conditions the Proteas expected heading into this tour.
TEA time: Great session for the spinners. SL XI 206/6 after 50.4 overs. @shamsi90 picked up 3/28 alongside @shaunvonberg46 2/59. Have a look at this peach of a ball from Shamsi ???? #SLvSA pic.twitter.com/2GrBBTLIQC
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) July 7, 2018
Angelo Mathews, who missed last month’s tour of West Indies after the first Test to attend the birth of his second child, struck 92 before young Proteas speedster Lungi Ngidi bowled the stand-in Sri Lanka skipper.
Danushka Gunathilaka (53) and Kaushal Silva (76) both impressed, with the former hunting down a regular spot in the starting XI.
The Proteas lost one wicket by the close of play, Aiden Markram bowled for a duck, as they posted 17-1.
Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
