The Proteas managed to defend their total of 180-3 and seal the series with a 16-run win despite an entertaining 48-ball 84 from Isuru Udana at SuperSort Park. KHALID MOHIDIN reports.
The Proteas had the perfect scenario unfold before them at SuperSport Park. After being sent into bat first, the hosts were handed the opportunity to show off their batting ability. Especially their top order.
The Centurion crowd got to witness two batsmen in top form. But they were treated to an attacking display after a slow start that saw the Proteas lose the wicket of Aiden Markram and scored only 28 runs after five overs.
The World Cup selectors would have sat up in attention as Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen stole the show as their seatbelts on the plane to England tightened.
The pair set a solid foundation scoring 116 off 77 balls that helped the Proteas to 180-3 in their 20 overs. JP Duminy also contributed a neat 17-ball 33 which put the Proteas in the driving seat to complete a simple victory.
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As expected the Proteas’ bowlers were up for the task. Incredible bowling from Dale Steyn and Chris Morris set the tone, both speedsters taking two wickets each to knock Sri Lanka down 31-4 after four overs.
Steyn opened up superbly striking twice in the first over by dismissing Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis. Niroshan Dickwella looked dangerous for his 16-ball 20 but Morris spoilt his party.
Morris struck again with his following delivery, finding Kamindu Mendis’ edge and handing debutant wicketkeeper Sinethemba Qeshile his first catch behind the stumps in international cricket.
Sri Lanka found themselves down six for 62 runs after 10 overs, due to a wicket from Dwaine Pretorius to dismiss the dangerous Thisara Perera after his 15-ball 22 (two fours, one six). Pretorius fooled Perera with a quick short ball that he skied for a second simple catch by Qeshile.
An extraordinary dismissal followed. Dhananjaya de Silva skied a Lutho Sipamla delivery that flew above the floodlights with Duminy’s loud call of ‘mine’ echoing through the ground, but after dropping the catch he recovered after Sri Lanka called for a second run. Duminy proceded to run out De Silva and knock the visitors seven down for 83 runs.
Isuru Udana showed his big-hitting capabilities once again and provided the Sri Lankan fans with some entertainment by reaching an exquisite maiden T20I half-century.
Tabraiz Shamsi, however, took Sri Lanka’s eighth wicket when Akila Dananjaya dragged a tossed up delivery outside off onto his stumps.
Morris (3-32) finished his four overs with a wicket to dismiss Lasith Malinga with a yorker, with Sri Lanka still in need of 32 off six balls.
Udana continued his admirable innings. He smashed six sixes and eight fours for his 48-ball 84.
Sipamla, despite being smashed for two sixes in the final over by Udana, managed to seal the series for the Proteas.
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
