Kurunegala (Sri Lanka) - Your average open air sauna is not the most comfortable conditions in which to wage a battle for the honour and glory of your country.
But Alan Dawson is not just your average troopie. He assumed the role of a special service commando and did a pretty good job at Welagedera Stadium for South Africa A yesterday. In enervating conditions he put in a two hour spell of bowling which is as good as any class act he has managed for Western Province.
And despite a spate of dropped catches by the slips cordon and some palpably appalling umpiring decisions from the local versions of Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles duo, his spirit did not flag on the opening day of this second unofficial Test.
Certainly he deserved a better return than four for 37 as Sri Lanka A crawled their way to 181 for eight at the close of as frustrating a day's play as any South African side will experience in this country.
But as this is merely the South African A side, not the seniors, and the heroics are most likely to be glossed over, although it should be remembered that the SA under-24s won here by eight wickets three years ago.
At one stage Dawson, gaining a lot of out-swing from the conditions, had three for 17 in a spell of 12 overs. Had catches been taken, he would have had a six-wicket haul to smile about. But HD Ackerman missed two and Derek Crookes and Martin van Jaarsveld also put down one apiece as the willing workhorse ploughed a furrow of courage to rank along side Lance Klusener's in the A team's history.
Those fortunate to survive Dawson's assault were Manoj Mendis and Malinda Warnapura. The latter was dropped twice before he managed to put a run to his name. They added 58 for the fifth wicket but it was not a partnership to remember.
It was Dawson who also reeled in the big catch, Test batsman Sanjeewa Ranatunga. Although he had him trapped in front the first ball he faced, he eventually slashed a delivery into Herschelle Gibbs' safe hands at point after scoring only three.
There were long spells of bowling from Crookes and Nicky Boje, only they also suffered from the umpiring blunders. As with the Under-24s three years ago, the lbw law is non-existent when applied to local batsmen. Boje, who ended with seven match wickets in 1995, had managed to collect the scalps of Mendis and TM Dilshan through clever flight and variation.
As for Crookes, all his theories of how to win an lbw decision in his favour have been without success.
Day 2: Ackerman and Gibbs hit form
Kurunegala (Sri Lanka) - A century partnership of character and courage has enabled South Africa A to work towards a commanding first innings lead at the Welagedera Stadium yesterday.
And the men to provide the backbone to a first innings total of 168 for two are Test batsmen HD Ackerman and Herschelle Gibbs, with well-worked half-centuries apiece in a stand which has yielded 151 runs on a second day, affected by rain and bad light, in the second unofficial Test against Sri Lanka A.
At the close of a trying day which saw both sides exchanging words in front of the pavilion, Ackerman was on 63 and Gibbs had reached 79 in an unbroken partnership of 143 for the third wicket.
For Ackerman it was a personal milestone as he reached his first half-century on the tea island in his second tour after failing to move out of the 30s in the 1995 visit with SA under/24s.
Coming together with the score a shaky 17 for two the Western Province duo overcame the frustrations of questionable umpiring decisions in Sri Lanka A's first innings total of 196 and built a solid foundation to launch the tourist's counter attack.
It was hard for two naturally gifted strokeplayers to curb their natural instincts on a pitch which was not only two-paced but they worked their way through the trying conditions. And it was good to see how Ackerman, criticised at home for his inability to play spin, handled the four spinners Sri Lanka used yesterday.
If the national selectors were seeking an answer to the ability of both men to tackle spin bowling, they received it yesterday with a controlled and disciplined display.
It was Gibbs who launched the first main assault when he hammered Tilan Samaraweera for consecutive sixes - both straight drives of perfect timing. Gibbs was first to his half-century; an effort which took him only 86 balls as he worked the ball into the gap for two.
Ackerman, who went in at three, batted with much care and attention and it showed in his handling of off-spinners Samaraweera and Malintha Warnapura along with the probing leg-spin of young Malinga Bandara. It has been a performance where he has paced himself with maturity and as such his confidence grew.
The way he cut Sajith Fernando for one of his six boundaries to reach the 50 was a the sign of a man in control of the situation.
All the time Gibbs looked at ease and composed as he played with his pads on occasions: a risk in a way as umpires Lalith Jayasundara and Ignatius Anandappa have turned in a performances which would have Brian Basson, director of umpiring in South Africa, calling them to retire.
It was Jayasundara who denied the hard-working left-arm fast bowler Gary Gilder a second wicket when Samaraweera was trapped on the back foot in the fourth over of the day. The batsman started giggling as he practiced the stroke.
At least Alan Dawson managed to become the second South African to take five wickets at this ground, the first being Fanie de Villiers. It was a touch of poetic justice that allowed Dawson to wrap up the innings with the wickets of Indika Ggallage and Bandara.
Although his six for 44 is not a career best, he regards it as a far better effort than the six for 18 for Province B against Free State B in a UCB Bowl match in the 1995/96 season.
More Day 2: Vaas beamer as tempers flare
Trevor Chesterfield
Kurunegala (Sri Lanka) - On a day when the incompetency levels of Sri Lanka's umpires reached a new low Chaminda Vaas also lost it yesterday when he bowled a beamer at South Africa A batsman Herschelle Gibbs.
But it seems the international fast bowler, playing for Sri Lanka A in the second unofficial Test at Welagedara Stadium, delivered the head high ball at Gibbs on the instructions of his, captain Sajith Fernando.
The beamer, however, was just one of a number of niggling incidents which has seen tempers flare more than once on the first two days of a game which has been affected by rain and light.
South Africa A had reached 168 for two at the close with HD Ackerman not out 63 and Gibbs on 79, leaving the tourists 29 runs behind Sri Lanka A's first innings total of 196.
Steady overnight rain had left large pools of water on the field and an hour's play has already been lost today.
The Sri Lankans, upset at having to bowl with a wet ball and unable to shift either Ackerman or Gibbs, were not keen to go on a third time. As it is they had earlier attempted to claim a catch when Gibbs cut a delivery to point. The ball did not carry, but that did not stop the Sri Lankan A side from attempting to delude themselves and the umpires into believing the catch was ``fair''.
The incident exacerbated an already serious problem which involved the umpires, Lalith Jayasundara and Ignatius Anandappa, who have been inconsistent in their decisions. The turned down numerous appeals for lbw and catches by the South African A wicketkeeper, Nic Pothas.
But the first lbw appeal in the South African A innings, against Mark Bruyns, was swiftly upheld. While Bruyns looked to be out similar appeals in the Sri Lanka A innings were turned down.
And as the farce continued, the words of Dave Houghton, the Zimbabwe coach, came back to haunt the Messrs Jayasundara and Anandappa. Earlier this year Houghton used terms such as ``incompetent'', ``disgraceful'' and ``miscarriage of fair play'' during an after match interview over the umpiring of the last day's play of the second Test in Colombo.
At fault were umpires K T Francis (Sri Lanka) and Saleem Badar (Pakistan) with Houghton telling the after-match press conference: ``I feel like the umpires raped us.''
Reports suggest the umpiring became so one-sided on the final day that Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell admitted he was on the point of leading his team off when Arjuna Ranatunga survived a third lbw decision which seemed embarrassed the Sri Lanka captain, who laughed when given not out.
The same ``local rule'' on lbws seems to apply here in Kurunegala with the batsmen given licence to walk across their stumps.
Nothing it seems has changed in Sri Lanka. One of the major complaints during the Under-24 tour in 1995 was the low quality of umpiring, which begged the question then of Sri Lanka officials whether the lbw law had been banned for the visiting bowlers? It was greeted with an enigmatic smile.
Day 3: Tons for Gibbs and Ackerman
Trevor Chesterfield
Kurunegala (Sri Lanka) - Although Herschelle Gibbs and HD Ackerman stole the batting thunder for the second successive day, another umpiring blunder almost soured South Africa A's record-breaking performance Welagedara Stadium.
Gibbs and HD Ackerman put together a record 265 runs for the third wicket yesterday, registering the first centuries of the rain-affected Sri Lanka tour as the side built a commanding first innings lead of 206.
Dale Benkenstein declared the A team's first innings total on 402 for eight in this second unofficial Test and attacked vigorously in order to wring a result out of a rain-affected match today.
At the close Sri Lanka A were 57 without loss with the opening batsmen Upek Fernando and Avishka Gunawrdena surviving some hostile bowling from Gary Gilder and Alan Dawson.
Ackerman and Gibbs gave the tourists the platform they need to win the game when they hauled the side from a shaky 17 for two to a near impregnable 282 - the highest partnership by a South African team in this country. It fell five runs short of the A team's all-wicket record of 267 against Mashonaland in 1994.
Both batsmen continued where they had left off on Sunday and putting aside the frustrations of a bad-tempered second day's play, both batsmen reached their three figure marks with almost identical strokes.
For Gibbs, who went on to score 153, his century was reached with a classic off-drive, hitting the Sri Lanka Test fast bowler Chaminda Vaas for the 12th four if his innings.
Ackerman, who battled to put runs on the scoreboard when he toured the tea island three years ago, lofted Tilan Samaraweera over the off-spinner's head after a lengthy stay at the crease. He was dismissed for 102. In terms of the match situation, however, the two batsmen were in superb form, batting with care and attention throughout their partnership of 393 minutes. They mastered the spin attack with clever technique and footwork which belied the theory that both men were soft targets for spinners.
Then, in an effort to get quick runs the tourists lost six wickets adding 120 with Benkenstein heading the charge with an innings 47.
It was during a partnership with Derek Crookes, however, when Malinda Warnapura, son of the former Test captain Bandula, was awarded a run out by umpire Lalith Jayasundara. The batsman was well past the stumps when the umpire signal led to Crookes that he was out. There seemed to be some confusion at first when Crookes refused to walk. He remonstrated with the umpire that the ball had not broken the stumps when he had made his ground.
The Sri Lanka Test fast bowler Vaas, on trial to test his fitness for the tour of England, was involved in an unsavoury incident on Sunday when he bowled a beamer at Gibbs, seemingly on the instructions of the Sri Lanka A team captain, Sajith Fernando. Although Ackerman intervened as the wicketkeepers was heard to call ``well bowled''.
One of the problems in this match is that both sides are staying at the same hotel, about a 90 minutes ride from the ground, along with the two umpires, who travel each day with the Sri Lanka A team.
Day 4: South Africa 'A' in Kurunegala triumph
Kurunegala (Sri Lanka) - South Africa A beat the rain and pulled off a stunning victory against the odds at Welagedara Stadium yesterday to take a 1-0 lead in the unofficial Test series against Sri Lanka A.
And in winning by an innings and four runs Dale Benkenstein's tourists repeated the success of the SA under/24 side which won her three years ago. Although the foundation for the victory was first laid on Sunday when HD Ackerman and Herschelle Gibbs began their match-winning partnerships, the patience of the bowling attack under trying and often frustrating conditions.
What wrapped it up was the new ball attack of Gary Gilder and Alan Dawson who put together the sort of rhythm and swing which saw South Africa A through to the sort of triumph which at one stage seemed would be denied them.
And it was a team effort which saw South Africa A walk proudly off the field, knowing they needed to take 30 wickets to win the match. Benkenstein and Co, after much inactivity from the ground staff the rain had stopped, rolled up their collective sleeves and helped in what had been a futile effort to remove the covers. But with rain clouds hanging around the ground there was always the threat of the match being interrupted again by the weather.
Yet the victory, although a team effort, belonged to the hard-working bowlers led by the spin twins Nicky Boje and Derek Crookes, who between the bowled 66 overs, taking seven of the wickets. Crookes ended with four for 60 and Boje three for 79.
At times, however, it seemed as though the South Africans needed to take 20 wickets instead of 10 to win the match as the umpires, from the start of the day's play, turned down decisions which would have earned success in South Africa.
Boje put his left-arm spin to good use early on to earn the initial breakthrough when he picked up three wickets: getting rid of opener Avishka Gunawardena along with Sajith Fernando and Sanjeewa Ranatunga to superb close to the wicket catches which involved Ackerman and Mark Bruyns.
Those three wickets meant that South Africa A were then in with a slim chance of winning the game, with the third match starting at Matara on Friday. Boje, bowling in tandem with the off-spinner, Crookes, plugged away in a bid to wrest the initiative after starting the day with an overall lead of 149 runs.
Crookes finally picked up his first wicket when he had the schoolboy, Upeka Fernando, picked up by Bruyns at forward short leg for 32.
This brought together the most experienced players in the Sri Lanka A side with Sanjeewa Ranatunga and Manoj Mendis battling to survive on a pitch which, on occasions, gave the spin bowlers the advantage.
Both batsmen, however, perished with Boje getting rid of Ranatunga for 11, and Crookes finally wringing an lbw decision out of the Test umpire Ignatius Andandappa to remove Mendis.
Gunawardena, fortunate to survive a confident bat-pad catch in the second over of the day, went on to score 50 before Ashwell Prince picked up the first of his two catches, at deep mid-wicket.
The first wicket to fall today, Gunawardena attempted one pull too many against Boje, who caused further problems for the Sri Lanka A batsmen. While Crookes was pitching into the rough created by Gary Gilder on Monday, Boje was bowling with tight control as he turned the ball sharply away from the bat.
One of Boje's wickets was gobbled up by Bruyns with Ranatunga falling to a ball that skidded in the foot marks. It was Crookes who finally got rid of Mendis for 48 when the batsman went on the sweep to a ball which found him in front.
Clever captaincy by Benkenstein kept up the pressure as the game of patience was waged with methodical success to see the A team work their way through to a convincing victory.
More Day 4: Benkenstein's captaincy wins the day
Sigiriya (Sri Lanka) - Dale Benkenstein, displaying the courage and determination which has turned him into an astute captain, led from the front yesterday to help set up a remarkable victory for South Africa A.
He then praised his ``troops'' for their team effort as the side left Welagedara Stadium in Kurunegala, victors by an innings and four runs over Sri Lanka A, and a 1-0 lead in the unofficial Test series.
Putting aside four days of frustration, frayed tempers and the sort of horrendous umpiring decisions which would make even sub-continent veterans seriously contemplate retirement, the South Africans displayed all the patience needed to overcome such trials and tribulations.
The result was a triumph which was more than a victory by an innings and four runs: the tourists needed, in the words of the coach, Graham Ford, to take 40 wickets to win this game.
As the side head for Colombo and later Matara, venue for the third unofficial Test, the side was able to relax and reflect on a quite remarkable, under the circumstances, victory
Yet it required the sort of self-belief, measured patience and a solid game plan to wring a deserving result out of this match. Part of that plan was the use of the two class spin bowlers, Derek Crookes and Nick Boje on the last day.
As both have played on the sub-continent before bowling with umpires reluctant to give decisions was not entirely a new experience. But it also had its moments of when explanations for turning down a decision became laughable.
Little wonder Crookes, who ended with four for 60 in 30 overs and delivered his off-spin without a break in humid-sapping heat, felt he was robbed of a career best eight-wicket haul.
Catches at the wicket, bat-pad decisions and lbw appeals had to be laughed off. And Boje, who like Crookes has sub-continent experience just smiled as enigmatically as the umpire when decisions were turned down, until HD Ackerman picked up a superb catch to get rid of the Sri Lanka A captain Sajith Fernando. Lalith Jayasundara, who would battle to manage a third league game in South Africa finally gave a decision in favour of the bowler. Even the lbw decision Crookes earned was a small step for ``mankind''.
Mental strength in another area is also needed. Travelling 90 minutes each way twice a day, forced to put up with umpires who had all but forgotten the lbw law, and a lack of urgency by ground staff yesterday after the rain, was as taxing as embarking on a mountain climbing trip with the hosts failing to supply the support systems.
Benkenstein and his combat unit rolled up their sleeves to get the covers off while the Sri Lanka A side and the umpires stood around waiting for who knows what.
As the spinners Boje and Crookes worked their way patiently through the wickets to take seven of the 10 needed, it became obvious that the Lankans had neither a game plan or an idea of what to do, apart from relying on the umpires to help them out of whatever fix they were in.
It was left to the new ball duo of Gary Gilder and Alan Dawson to wrap it up in a matter of eight balls. First Dawson got rid of T M Dilshan for a stubborn 15, with Ashwell Prince taking his second catch.
Then Gilder, the left-arm fast bowler, removed Chaminda Vaas with a nifty out-swinger which he whipped across the body followed by an successful lbw appeal against Malinda Bandara.
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