Sri Lanka managed to push themselves to 134-7 despite a dominant display by the Proteas bowlers and a David Miller wicketkeeping debut, writes KHALID MOHIDIN from Newlands.
The Proteas had the perfect start after electing to bowl first. As expected, their seam attack was all over the Sri Lanka batsmen who needed to find an extra burst of energy to compete with a rampant Proteas attack.
Dale Steyn cam back into the mix and he struck instantly, giving David Miller his first gather behind the stumps as the designated wicketkeeper on the day by removing Niroshan Dickwella (0) who was in desperate need of form.
Kagiso Rabada then removed the dangerman Kusal Mendis (0) who chipped to mid-on.
Lutho Sipamla (1-19), who came in as a late call-up as Lungi Ngidi’s replacement after the speedster picked up a left side strain, was in the wickets next. He set Avishka Fernando (41) up for a lofted shot that drew out a fantastic catch from Reeza Hendricks on the ropes. The Proteas opener showed amazing spacial awareness on the boundary to pull off one of the catches of the series.
The Proteas No 1 all-rounder, Andile Phehlukwayo, then stepped up and pulled off a beautiful knuckleball to clean bowl Angelo Perera for 16.
This followed by another special moment for Miller, who seems like he is being prepped as the backup keeper for the World Cup. In the 12th over, he backed up his case as Quinton de Kock’s replacement with his first stumping. After a beautifully flighted googly from Imran Tahir left Kamindu Mendis (41) stranded outside his crease, Miller took off the bails having read the trajectory perfectly. This was a key wicket to knock Sri Lanka down 76-5, by removing the visitors’ top scorer.
Phehlukwayo (3-25) showed his effectiveness at the death when he forced Thisara Perera to sky a short delivery to Du Plessis at long-off and then followed this up by bowling Angelo Perera (0). This reduced the visitors to 113-7 in 18.3 overs.
Sri Lanka managed to squeeze out some desperate runs to push themselves to 134-7, which should be an easy total for the Proteas to chase.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Getty Images
