Smith guides South Africans to the draw

Sri Lanka Cricket President's XI 251 and 286 for 3 dec (Vandort 129, Arnold 83, Kaluwitharana 54*) drew against South Africans 226 (Rudolph 49) and 129 for 2 (Smith 85*)
Scorecard

Graeme Smith played a captain's innings of 85 not out as the South Africans secured a draw in their tour match against the Sri Lanka Board President's XI in Colombo. After Michael Vandort had scored 129, and Russel Arnold 83, in their total of 286 for 3 declared, Smith ensured his side didn't make a losing start to their tour of Sri Lanka.

Resuming at 123 for 1, the President's XI made steady progress, with Vandort and Arnold taking advantage of some rusty bowling as Smith used nine bowlers in all. A total of 14 players were allowed to be played in the match, and all the South African bowlers in the squad had a chance to impress, but not with much success.

Vandort, who has played two Tests for Sri Lanka, and Arnold added 187 in all before both were out caught by Andrew Puttick off Nicky Boje. In between their dismissals, Romesh Kaluwitharana punched a quickfire 54 not out to boost the total before Thilan Samaraweera declared the innings leaving the South Africans needing an academic 312 to win.

Puttick completed a disappointing match when he was bowled by Asanka Welegedara for 12, and Martin van Jaarsveld was shortly out, caught and bowled by Rangana Herath and the South Africans were teetering a touch at 66 for 2. However, Smith knuckled down to spend a little over two hours at the crease and hit 12 fours to deny the attack. Jacques Kallis also got in some good batting practice with 25 not out from 42 balls.