Kagiso Rabada and Tabraiz Shamsi took four wickets apiece as Sri Lanka were bundled out for 193 in the first ODI in Dambulla.
Proteas fans got a tantalising glimpse into the future, as Lungi Ngidi and Rabada opened the bowling for the Proteas.
With them undoubtedly being the bowling pair to carry the Proteas forward, the young speedsters got off to a great start with Rabada picking up a wicket in each of his first two overs. He dismissed Niroshan Dickwella (two runs) and Kusal Mendis (three runs) in his second, while Ngidi bowled tidily at the other end.
Ngidi’s consistent pressure forced a run out in the sixth over as Upul Tharanga (10) pushed the ball to mid-off where JP Duminy did the rest with a direct hit at the non-striker’s end. Ngidi then removed Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews for five in the eighth over, followed by Rabada getting his third in the ninth over to find a nick off Shehan Jayasuriya for a duck, caught Quinton de Kock. Sri Lanka found themselves four down with 45 on the board by the end of the powerplay.
The Proteas switched to their two young all-rounders Andile Phehlukwayo and Wiaan Mulder, but the decision didn’t go to plan. Mulder went for 34 in his first three overs and Phehlukwayo went for 30 in his first three overs, which helped Kusal Perera and Thisara Perera find their grip on the contest.
The pair raced to 84 off just 51 balls before the Proteas brought spinner Tabraiz Shamsi into the attack.
Despite Shamsi being smashed for two boundaries in his first over, he also picked up the wicket of Thisara on 49 to break the 92 run-partnership. Thisara was drawn forward by a looped delivery outside off from Shamsi, which the batsman knicked through to De Kock. This reduced Sri Lanka to 128-6 in the 18th over.
Kusal continued to impress and reached his 10th half-century three balls into the 20th over. He managed to push his side past the 150-run mark while Akila Dananjay (11) played a supportive role at the other end. But Dananjay’s resistance was ended when Shamsi spun one into the left-hander, knocking off his bails.
Shamsi was responsible for Kusal’s downfall as well, the Sri Lanka batter attempted an unnecessary reverse sweep directly to David Miller at point with his score on 81 off 72 balls – and with plenty of overs in hand.
Rabada (4-41) and Shamsi (4-33) added the finishing touches to an incredible bowling performance as they skittled Sri Lanka for 193. The absence of Dimuth Karunaratne highlights the impact the opener had during the Test series.
Sri Lanka innings 193 – Kusal Perera 81, Tabraiz Shamsi 4-33, Kagiso Rabada 4-41
Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
