The match was to commence around 12.30 pm after umpires E. K. G. Wijewardena and Gamini Silva along with the standby umpire former Sri Lanka Test leg-spinner Asoka de Silva inspected the ground and pitch condition, but a steady drizzle followed by rain around 11.15 am prevented any chance of play thereafter.
``It is very disappointing as we were looking forward for a good outing in preparation for the Test'', said the visiting team's Cricket Manager H. J. Paulse soon after the match was called off.
The South Africans have four Test players in their ranks namely Hilton Ackerman, Derek Crooks, Herchelle Gibbs and Nicky Boje who has made a previous tour with a South African 'A' team.
That team included players of the calibre of Shaun Pollock, Gehardus Leibenburg, Jacques Kallis and Lance Klusener to name a few.
The team is the second best in South Africa with all the players performing well in their domestic tournaments which have been the criteria of selection.
They have included two left-arm spinners Claude Henderson, Nicky Boje and a couple of right arm spinners Derek Crooks and Mark Bruyns being aware of the local spinning wickets. Gary Gilder, a left-arm paceman, along with H. Williams, Herman Bakkes and Alan Dawson are the other pacemen.
The South African 'A' tour party:
Dave Benkenstein (Captain), Derek Crooks, Herchelle Gibbs, Nicky Boje, Herman Bakkes, Alan Dawson, Hilton Ackerman, Loots Bosman, Ashville Prins, Gary Gilder, Mark Bruyns, M. Van Jaarsveld, N. Pothas, H. Williams, Claude Henderson.
H. J. Paulse (manager), G. Ford (coach), S. Jabaar (physio).