Lanka beat South Africa by two wickets
Sachithra Senanayake struck a six off the penultimate ball to give
Sri Lanka a two-wicket triumph over South Africa on Sunday in the final
match of a five one-day international series won 3-2 by the hosts.
Captain AB de Villiers and predecessor Graeme Smith (125 each) struck
tons as South Africa made 312-4, but a century from Kumar Sangakkara
(102) led the tourists to 314-8 at the Wanderers and a second win within
three days.
Sri Lanka appeared to be cruising until Sangakkara became the fourth
wicket to fall with 275 runs on the board and a late South Africa rally
saw them grab two wickets within three balls during the final over. It
left the tourists needing five runs from two balls to succeed and
Senanayake hit Robin Peterson for a six to snatch victory in a thrilling
climax to the two-month tour.
Sangakkara struck 10 fours in a maiden ODI ton against South Africa
and there were also valuable contributions from Lahiru Thirimanne (69),
Upul Tharanga (46) and skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan (41).
De Villiers and Smith excelled as South Africa recovered from a
sluggish early run rate having being sent in to bat by Dilshan in a
match delayed for one hour by rain early in the Sri Lankan innings.
De Villiers finished unbeaten after facing 98 deliveries while Smith
received a standing ovation from the sell-out 30,000 crowd after being
caught by Dinesh Chandimal at mid-wicket off the bowling of Lasith
Malinga.
While the Proteas skipper confirmed his position as one of the best
stroke players in the world today with 10 fours and four sixes, Smith
could not contain his joy as he walked off after a timely first ODI ton
in three years. There was a media and public outcry against him just a
week ago after innings of six, 28 and two in the first three matches of
the series before he stopped the rot with a brisk 68 in Kimberley two
days ago.
Smith embroidered his innings with nine fours and four sixes off 143
balls during a 203-minute stand and the sun-drenched crowd revelled in
his change of fortune.
South Africa lost opener Alviro Petersen (6) with only 10 runs on the
board and were 70-2 when Faf du Plessis (24) departed before De Villiers
and Smith took charge.
The Proteas stood at 133-2 after 30 overs and a run rate of 4.43
needed improvement on a good batting track, which the captains past and
present duly did with 44 runs coming during a power play soon after.
AFP
SOUTH AFRICA
G. Smith c Chandimal b Malinga 125
A. Petersen c Mathew b Malinga 6
F. du Plessis c Mathews b Senanayake 24
AB de Villiers not out 125
A. Morkel run out (Dilshan/Perera) 18
JP Duminy not out 5
Extras (2lb, 7w) 9
TOTAL (4 wkts, 50 overs) 312
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-70, 3-256, 4-269
(Bowling: Kulasekara 10-1-46-0, Malinga 10-0-79-2 (1w), Mathews 3-1-16-0 (2w),
Perera 7-0-64-0 (2w), Senanayake 9-0-50-1, Dilshan 2-0-12-0, Herath 9-0-43-0 (1w)
SRI LANKA
U. Tharanga c Duminy b Tsotsobe 46
T. Dilshan c De Villiers b Tsotsobe 41
K. Sangakkara c Peterson b Duminy 102
D. Chandimal c De Villiers b Parnell 20
L. Thirimanne c A. Morkel b Peterson 69
A. Mathews c Peterson b Parnell 6
T. Perera c Du Plessis b Duminy 2
N. Kulasekara b Peterson 0
R. Herath not out 1
S. Senanayake not out 6
Extras (12lb, 8w, 1nb) 21
TOTAL (8 wkts, 49.5 overs) 314
Fall of wickets: 1-72, 2-119 , 3-175, 4-275, 5-294, 6-307 , 7-307, 8-308
Bowling: M. Morkel 9.1-0-49-0 (2w), Tsotsobe 7-0-54-2 (2w), Duminy 6.5-0-44-2,
Parnell 10-0-51-2 (2w), A. Morkel 10-0-66-0 (1nb, 2w), Peterson 6.5-0-38-2 |