South Africa [198/2] beat Sri Lanka [137] by 45 runs (D/L method) in the third T20I, win series 3-0

[MenInG]

Sri Lanka have been competitive in patches but have lacked consistency thus conceding the first two T20Is, and the series, to South Africa.

Overview

South Africa v Sri Lanka
3rd T20I
Wanderers, Johannesburg
Sunday, 24 March 2019; 2:30pm local time, 12:30pm GMT

Despite having already lost the series, a win against South Africa in the final T20I in Johannesburg on 24 March will go a long way in restoring their confidence.

Their tour to South Africa began on a historic note as they won both Tests, becoming the first Asian side to achieve a series win in the country. But since then, it's gone rapidly downhill without much respite. They were clean-swept in the five-match ODI series and stand on the verge of suffering similar fate in the T20Is.

But they will draw some confidence from the fact that they have put in good performances in both games. Sure, they lost the last game by 16 runs, but the fact that they recovered from 83/7 to 164/9 – thanks to Isuru Udana's masterclasss – is a sign that they have depth in the batting. The first game, in fact, ended in a tie and South Africa secured victory only in the Super Over.

South Africa, on the other hand, will be buoyant about their showing in the second game, winning comfortably in the end despite missing on experienced players like Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock, Imran Tahir and Kagiso Rabada, all of whom have been rested. Not to forget, they're also missing Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje through injury.

In the second T20I, the relatively inexperienced, at international level at least, Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen stepped up to the task with both registering fifties before the experienced JP Duminy, stand-in captain, laid finishing touches with a 17-ball 33 laced with boundaries.

The bowlers too did a good job and Dale Steyn even picked up two wickets in his very opening over. Chris Morris, the fast-bowling all-rounder, and Tabraiz Shamsi, the left-arm wrist-spinner, were also among the wickets. All combined to ensure that Udana's brilliance – 84* off 48 balls – was ultimately in vain.

Sri Lanka's biggest concern will be the top-order, which has failed over and over again. The likes of Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella and Dhananjaya de Silva will be keen to turn that around.

Rassie van der Dussen has been quite consistent right since the start of the ODI series Rassie van der Dussen has been quite consistent right since the start of the ODI series
Key Players

Rassie van der Dussen (South Africa): The 30-year-old top-order batsman is in excellent form – although he's been a little guilty of failing to convert strong platforms. But he was imperious in the first second T20I and he will want to close out with another memorable knock.

Niroshan Dickwella (Sri Lanka): When he gets going he's one of the most dangerous batsmen in the Sri Lanka line-up. But he hasn't been able to really set the stage on fire this series. He did show some signs of returning to form with a crisp 15-ball 20 in the previous game, and if he can build on that, Sri Lanka will have a much better chance of making or chasing a big score.

Conditions

The weather forecast is promising with chances of rain only slim and the temperature expected to hover around the early twenties. The pitch at Wanderers tends to be very batting friendly and one can expect a lot of big hits.

Squads

South Africa: JP Duminy (c), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Dale Steyn, Rassie van der Dussen

Sri Lanka: Lasith Malinga (c), Niroshan Dickwella, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Perera, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Priyamal Perera, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Isuru Udana, Asitha Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshan Sandakan

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1112416

 

[MenInG]

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Niroshan Dickwella(w), Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Angelo Perera, Thisara Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Isuru Udana, Akila Dananjaya, Lasith Malinga(c), Jeffrey Vandersay, Suranga Lakmal

South Africa (Playing XI): Aiden Markram, Reeza Hendricks, Jean-Paul Duminy(c), Sinethemba Qeshile(w), David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Junior Dala, Lutho Sipamla, Tabraiz Shamsi

Sri Lanka opt to bowl

 

[Abdullah719]

SA 116/1 in 14 overs.

 

[MenInG]

RSA 198/2 (20.0 Ovs)
SL 111/6 (11.1 Ovs) CRR: 9.94 REQ: 9.96
Sri Lanka need 88 runs in 53 balls - Rain stops play

 

[MenInG]

DWAINE PRETORIUS made a maiden half-century and was involved in two important partnerships with Reeza Hendricks and JP Duminy to put the Standard Bank Proteas on their way to victory by 45 runs on the DLS method and a series clean sweep in the final KFC T20 International match at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.

Pretorius, who had not batted in any of his three previous T20 International matches, grabbed his chance when he finally got the opportunity in the pivotal No. 3 position. He shared all-important partnerships of 90 for the second wicket with Hendricks (a career best 66 off 52 balls, 8 fours and 2 sixes) and then an unbroken 71 for the third wicket with Duminy (34 not out off 14 balls, 2 fours and 3 sixes) in just five overs.

Pretorius finished unbeaten on 77 (42 balls, 4 fours and 3 sixes) and for good measure took a wicket with his first ball when he came on to bowl.

The Sri Lankan reply got off to a decent start this time largely thanks to NIroshan Dikwella (38 off 22 balls, 7 fours) but then fell into their bad habits of old as they lost six wickets for 54 runs. They were nevertheless ahead on the comparative run rate as they had been throughout their innings although the number of wickets lost meant they were behind on the DLS method when rain interrupted play after 11.1 overs of their reply.

It left them with a revised target of 183 in 17 overs which effectively meant they had to score 72 off the remaining 35 balls.

However, they did have a trump card up their sleeves in the big-hitting Isuru Udana who had already scored 25 runs off just 12 balls, including three huge sixes, before the weather interruption. However, it meant he would have to do it all himself with only tail-enders left to bat around him.

They managed only 7 off the remaining 5 balls of Tabraiz Shamsi’s 12th over, reducing the target to 65 off 30 balls.

A couple of tight overs followed from Chris Morris and Shamsi, pushing the required rate up to 18 runs per over for the last three.

Andile Phehlukwayo started the next over with a no ball and a wide, then conceded a six before making the vital strike by having Udana caught on the boundary (36 off 23 balls, 4 sixes).

It left Sri Lanka needing 46 off 15 balls with no power hitters left at their disposal.

Phehlukwayo dismissed Sri Lanka captain Lasith Malinga in the same over to give him career best figures of 4/24 as the Proteas closed in for the kill.

The end was in sight as Lutho Sipamla cleaned up the tail with a double strike.

 

[The Viper]

South Africa secure comfortable win in third T20I

South Africa strolled to a 45-run DLS victory over Sri Lanka to seal a clean sweep in their three-match T20I series.

The hosts were asked to bat first by Lasith Malinga and after losing Aiden Markram for 15 inside the Powerplay, never took their foot off the tourists’ throat. Reeza Hendricks timed his innings to perfection and registered his second consecutive fifty with 66 off 52 but he played second fiddle to Dwaine Pretorius who stole the show with devastating hitting

The all-rounder was given a rare opportunity at No. 3 and wowed his home crowd with seven fours and three sixes on his way to an unbeaten 77 from just 42 deliveries. Skipper JP Duminy played a breezy cameo of 34 not out from 14 as he saw his side to an intimidating 198.

Sri Lanka’s chase got off to a perfect start as Niroshan Dickwella and Dhananjaya de Silva raced to 42 without loss from just four overs. Pretorius then continued his fine day out by finding the breakthrough - de Silva LBW for 8 - which precipitated the collapse. Dickwella (38) and Avishka Fernando (1) both fell to Andile Phehlukwayo slower balls in the sixth over.

Junior Dala then bagged himself a brace across two overs before Hendricks pulled off a remarkable direct hit to send Thisara Perera back for 8 and leave Sri Lanka floundering at 96/6. Just as it was in Cape Town, Sri Lanka’s hopes rested with Isuru Udana who attacked from the outset before a Highveld thunder storm brought a halt to proceedings.

When the sides emerged the revised target was 183 which meant Sri Lanka needed 72 from 35 balls. Udana hit Phehlukwayo for six over cover to move to 36 but it would be the bowler who had the final say. Another slower ball was sent to long off where David Miller completed a difficult catch (his third of the match).

Phehlukwayo ended the over with the wicket of Malinga to finish with a career best haul of 4/24. Youngster Lutho Sipamla received some tap earlier in the night but he finished well with two wickets of his own as he wrapped up the Sri Lanka innings.

Pretorius rightly earned the Player of the Match award and Hendricks took home the Player of the Series accolade. Both were outstanding with the bat and will give Proteas fans some comfort ahead of the Men's Cricket World Cup in May. As for Sri Lanka, Udana has been a revelation but there are more questions than answers for a side short of confidence with the white ball

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1113174