South Africa A beat Sri Lanka A by four wickets in Sunday’s limited-overs series opener at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
Fast bowler Lutho Sipamla completed figures of three for 33 in eight overs in Sri Lanka A’s final total of 264 for eight in 50 overs.
Seamers Lizaad Williams, Beyers Swanepoel, Tshepo Moreki and spinner Dewald Brevis took a wicket each.
South Africa’s reply of 268 for six in 41.1 overs was led by Brevis’ 98 not out from 71 balls, which included six fours and seven sixes.
Swanepoel struck 43 not out, batsman Keegan Petersen 42 and captain Tony de Zorzi 35.
South Africa A and Sri Lanka A will meet for two more limited-overs fixtures in Pallekele before contesting two four-day fixtures in Hambantota.
Proteas duo Kyle Verreynne and Zubayr Hamza were not selected for Sunday’s fixture, but will likely feature later this month.
“To those guys the message is quite simple, the door is never closed,” South Africa A coach Shukri Conrad, who is also the Test head coach, told IOL. “I think with an eye on the Test team, there’s a few batting spots that have not been nailed down.
“With the opportunities on this A tour, the guys can put their names out there for us to seriously consider them for the Proteas Test side. I think it’s the great opportunity for those guys to put on big performances and those will go a long way in getting them closer to that Test side.”