Paranavitana ton boosts Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka A 251 for 2 (Paranavitana 104*, Gunawardene 80, Tharanga 61) trail South Africa A 459 (Jacobs 131, Amla 106, Louw 78, Perera 3-48, Lakmal 3-77) by 208 runs
Scorecard

Sri Lanka A's top order, led by centurion Tharanga Paranavitana, made South Africa's first-innings total look innocuous as they ended day two of the first unofficial Test 208 runs behind the hosts.

Johann Louw's patient 78 took South Africa to 459 as the lower order added 94 to the overnight total. Louw's innings lasted nearly four hours and was ended by offspinner Dilruwan Perera, who picked up 3 for 48. Medium-pacer Suranga Lakmal took 3 for 77.

Sri Lanka's batsmen were not circumspect like South Africa's; the first-wicket stand of 89 came off 94 balls, with both Paranavitana and Tharanga hitting 13 fours each in their innings.

Paranavitana and Kanchana Gunawardene added 160 as Sri Lanka scored at 4.64 per over, far quicker than the run-rate of 3.38 in South Africa's innings. Thandi Thshabalala, the offspinner, took the two wickets to fall in the innings. Gunawardene fell just two overs before stumps, caught behind for 80. Paranavitana will resume Sri Lanka's hunt for the lead on Sunday along with Angelo Mathews.