Cullinan fails to impress but Klusener shines with the ball

Lance Klusener's poor form with the bat may have continued, but the all-rounder starred with the ball to ensure that South Africa A completed a convincing 65-run victory against the touring Sri Lankans at Potchestroom on Saturday.

Klusener, retained in South Africa's one-day squad for the first two games of a five-match series starting Wednesday at Wanderers, lasted just four balls in the morning before dragging a ball on to his stumps, but then redeemed himself by grabbing three middle-order wickets.

The all-rounder completed a fightback started by left-arm spinner Robin Peterson, who made a 69-ball 61 that helped South Africa A recover from a parlous position in the morning when they had crashed to 124 for eight.

Peterson added 57 with Charl Langeveldt (33*) and then 40 with last man Monde Zondeki (23), guiding South A to a respectable 221.

Darryl Cullinan missed his opportunity to persuade the selectors that he is ready for an international recall when he swung wildly at Pulasthi Gunaratne's second ball of the day and was caught at mid-on.

Earlier, Sri Lanka had been boosted by the news that Sanath Jayasuriya had recovered from the ankle injury that had forced him out of the second Test at Centurion.

In the event the left-hander failed with the bat as he was trapped lbw by Steve Elworthy, who went on to claim the wickets of Jehan Mubarak (17) and Kumar Sangakkara (21), finishing with three for 34 from seven overs.

Sri Lanka's middle order failed too, including veteran Aravinda de Silva who lingered 44 minutes at the crease for just seven runs in his first outing since arriving in South Africa on Monday.

Cape Province pace bowler Zondeki celebrated his surprise call-up into South Africa's 14-man squad for the first two one-day internationals with a fiery seven-over burst in which he claimed the crucial wicket of Mahela Jayawardene and conceded just eight runs.

The visitors were eventually restricted to 111 for eight after 32 overs in an innings twice interrupted by rain.