South Africa A lost five wickets for 45 runs to miss the chance of squaring their one-day series with Sri Lanka A and instead went down by 30 runs in match two at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Monday (2/9). 

The result meant the tourists claimed an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game sequence. But the hosts will no doubt be ruing what might have been, as Matthew Breetzke’s top-score, an assured 74 off 80 balls (4 fours, 1 six), had left them in a relatively good position at 194/5 in the 33rd over of the chase. This left them needing just 76 more to win.

Dushan Hemantha’s five for 48, however, proved key in turning the game upside down as the visitors closed out the game by bowling the home side out for 239 with 8.5 overs to spare.

CHANGE OF INNINGS

An electrifying day of cricket in Potch, as ‘SA A’ takes 7 wickets while ‘Sri Lanka A’ posted 268 runs in the first innings of the second One-Day match. ??????

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— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) September 2, 2024

It was a disappointing end to the game and means that match three on Wednesday will be a dead rubber.

However, things could have been so much better for the hosts after they had restricted SL ‘A’ to 269 for seven when they won the toss and opted to bat first.

Andile’s Simelane (2/24) and Phehlukwayo (2/51) took two wickets each, while there was also a strike each for Senuran Muthusamy (1/36), Codi Yusuf (1/61), and Nqaba Peter (1/58) in an improved display with the ball by the South Africans after match one where they conceded nearly 300.

South Africa A missed their chance to level the series, losing 5 wickets for 45 runs and falling 30 runs short against Sri Lanka A in Potchefstroom. Sri Lanka A now leads the series 2-0. ???? vs ????https://t.co/6k87t2jz7v#Cricket #SAAvSLA pic.twitter.com/3vu9XS2t79

— Cricket World (@Cricket_World) September 3, 2024

Lahiru Udara (86 off 95 balls, 11 fours, 1 six) and Sahan Arachchige (52 off 56 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) top-scored for the Sri Lankans.

Then in reply, Meeka eel Prince (44) and Muthusamy (37) helped the hosts recover from the early loss of David Bedingham (7) to reach 93 for one and then 149 for two thanks to Breetzke also at the other end.

But things went wrong from there as regular wickets hampered their progress. Simelane (27) and Phehlukwayo (24) again did their bit in trying to rescue the game, but Hemantha’s five cut open the tail and took the away side to what proved to be a comfortable win.

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