BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – A typically enterprising 75 from Romesh Kaluwitharana set Sri Lanka up for a tense four-run victory over South Africa in the CLOBI Cup International Masters Twenty20 competition on Saturday.

Kaluwitharana struck eight fours and three sixes from 48 balls to lead Sri Lanka to 171 for seven from their allocation of 20 overs, after they were sent in to bat in the second match of the competition being staged under the lights at Kensington Oval.

Ruwan Kalpage then snared three wickets for 20 runs from his allotment of four overs, as South Africa were restricted to 167 for six.

Adrian Kuiper – batting at No 6 – hit the top score of 62 for the South Africans, and breathed life into their chase late in the innings.

The South Africans had slumped to 116 for six before the 50-year-old Kuiper added 51 – unbroken – for the seventh wicket with Pat Symcox to put some pressure on the Sri Lankans down the stretch.

But Kuiper, whose only Test was against West Indies 17 years ago at Kensington Oval, when South Africa re-entered international cricket, following more than three decades of isolation because of apartheid, was unable to take his side over the threshold.

Earlier, Sri Lanka were 38 for two before Kaluwitharana added 84 for the third wicket with Hemantha Wickramaratne, who made 34.

Yesterday was a rest day in the competition before it resumes today – Independence Day in Barbados – when West Indies oppose England.