Proteas batting collapse hands ODI series victory to Sri Lanka
07 September 2021 - 19:50
byMahlatse Mphahlele
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Sri Lanka players pose for group picture after the 3rd ODI match between Sri Lanka and South Africa. Picture: ISURU SAMEERA PEIRIS
SA failed trial by spin spectacularly on a dry pitch at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo to lose the third and final ODI and the series 2-1 to Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
The Proteas, who have not won an ODI series since they beat Australia 18 months ago, dropped crucial 10 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League points as a result of the 78-run defeat.
But there is still a long way to go. The South Africans have dropped outside the automatic qualifying places for the 2023 World Cup, while Sri Lanka have refreshed their hopes by forcing their way into the top eight on the Super League standings.
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and chose to bat. They reached 203/9 in their 50 overs with Charith Asalanka top scorer with 47. He was followed by Dhananjaya de Silva (31) and Dushmantha Chameera (29).
In reply, the Proteas stuttered out of the blocks as they collapsed to 54/6 after 16 overs as Aiden Markram, Reeza Hendricks, Janneman Malan, Wiaan Mulder and Heinrich Klaasen perished early without contributing much.
The Proteas were ultimately meekly bowled out for 125 after 30 overs as they failed to respond to the Sri Lankan spin wizardry of Maheesh Theekshana, Chameera, Praveen Jayawickrama, Wanindu Hasaranga, De Silva and Charith Asalanka.
The pick of their bowlers was debutant Theekshana who lived up to his billing as the mystery spinner with impressive figures of 4/37. He was followed by Chameera and Hasaranga de Silva with two each.
Theekshana accounted for Malan (18), Klaasen (22), Kagiso Rabada (8) and Maharaj (15) while Chameera claimed Hendricks (1) and Rassie van der Dussen (5) and Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva got Mulder (2) and George Linde (18).
Other contributors were Praveen Jayawickrama and Charith Asalanka who got Markram (2) and Andile Phehlukwayo (17) respectively.
Theekshana became the third Sri Lankan bowler to take a wicket with his first ball in ODI cricket to join TCB Fernando and MTT Mirando. All-rounder Asalanka got his first ODI wicket.
For SA, there was nothing much to enthuse about with the bat as Klaasen was their highest scorer with 22 and was followed by Phehlukwayo with 17, as the rest failed to convert their starts.
Earlier in the match, the Proteas started the spin party in the favourable conditions with captain Keshav Maharaj putting his the slow bowlers to send down a record 40 overs.
Maharaj persisted with his spinners, including himself, Tabraiz Shamsi, George Linde and Makram, and they repaid the faith shown in them with eight wickets.
Fast bowlers Rabada, who bowled eight overs, and Phehlukwayo, who bowled one over, ended their spells with no mention in the wickets column, while Mulder, who also bowled one over, claimed one scalp.
It was the first time SA bowled 40 overs of spin, which was seven more overs than their previous record of 33.
Maharaj accounted for Avishka Fernando, Shanaka and Hasaranga de Silva, Shamsi removed Asalanka and Chamika Karunaratne, Linde got Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis.
Markram got Dhananjaya de Silva and Mulder removed Chameera.
The other notable scores for Sri Lanka were De Silva with 31 and Chameera with 29, while the rest failed to move past the 20-run mark.
They now turn their attention to the three-match T20 series that starts on Friday.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Sri Lanka wizards have Proteas in a spin
Proteas batting collapse hands ODI series victory to Sri Lanka
SA failed trial by spin spectacularly on a dry pitch at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo to lose the third and final ODI and the series 2-1 to Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
The Proteas, who have not won an ODI series since they beat Australia 18 months ago, dropped crucial 10 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League points as a result of the 78-run defeat.
But there is still a long way to go. The South Africans have dropped outside the automatic qualifying places for the 2023 World Cup, while Sri Lanka have refreshed their hopes by forcing their way into the top eight on the Super League standings.
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and chose to bat. They reached 203/9 in their 50 overs with Charith Asalanka top scorer with 47. He was followed by Dhananjaya de Silva (31) and Dushmantha Chameera (29).
In reply, the Proteas stuttered out of the blocks as they collapsed to 54/6 after 16 overs as Aiden Markram, Reeza Hendricks, Janneman Malan, Wiaan Mulder and Heinrich Klaasen perished early without contributing much.
The Proteas were ultimately meekly bowled out for 125 after 30 overs as they failed to respond to the Sri Lankan spin wizardry of Maheesh Theekshana, Chameera, Praveen Jayawickrama, Wanindu Hasaranga, De Silva and Charith Asalanka.
The pick of their bowlers was debutant Theekshana who lived up to his billing as the mystery spinner with impressive figures of 4/37. He was followed by Chameera and Hasaranga de Silva with two each.
Theekshana accounted for Malan (18), Klaasen (22), Kagiso Rabada (8) and Maharaj (15) while Chameera claimed Hendricks (1) and Rassie van der Dussen (5) and Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva got Mulder (2) and George Linde (18).
Other contributors were Praveen Jayawickrama and Charith Asalanka who got Markram (2) and Andile Phehlukwayo (17) respectively.
Theekshana became the third Sri Lankan bowler to take a wicket with his first ball in ODI cricket to join TCB Fernando and MTT Mirando. All-rounder Asalanka got his first ODI wicket.
For SA, there was nothing much to enthuse about with the bat as Klaasen was their highest scorer with 22 and was followed by Phehlukwayo with 17, as the rest failed to convert their starts.
Earlier in the match, the Proteas started the spin party in the favourable conditions with captain Keshav Maharaj putting his the slow bowlers to send down a record 40 overs.
Maharaj persisted with his spinners, including himself, Tabraiz Shamsi, George Linde and Makram, and they repaid the faith shown in them with eight wickets.
Fast bowlers Rabada, who bowled eight overs, and Phehlukwayo, who bowled one over, ended their spells with no mention in the wickets column, while Mulder, who also bowled one over, claimed one scalp.
It was the first time SA bowled 40 overs of spin, which was seven more overs than their previous record of 33.
Maharaj accounted for Avishka Fernando, Shanaka and Hasaranga de Silva, Shamsi removed Asalanka and Chamika Karunaratne, Linde got Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis.
Markram got Dhananjaya de Silva and Mulder removed Chameera.
The other notable scores for Sri Lanka were De Silva with 31 and Chameera with 29, while the rest failed to move past the 20-run mark.
They now turn their attention to the three-match T20 series that starts on Friday.
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