South Africa [232/2] beat Sri Lanka [231] by 8 wickets in the first ODI, lead series 1-0

[MenInG]

Sri Lanka were blanked in their last ODI series in South Africa, but this time, the force is with them ahead of the first ODI in Johannesburg on Sunday, 3 March.

Overview

South Africa v Sri Lanka
1st ODI
Wanderers, Johannesburg
Sunday, 3 March; 10.00am local, 08.00am GMT

Fact: The last time Sri Lanka played an ODI series in South Africa, they were swept 5-0. Also fact: Sri Lanka hadn’t won a Test in South Africa in over seven years before this tour. Just until a couple of weeks ago, there was little doubt about who the favourites were. Now, the joke is on those writing Sri Lanka off.

There's little doubt that this tour will be remembered for ages, irrespective of how the limited-overs leg pans out. But in a World Cup year, the ODIs now assume just as much significance. Can the events of the Test series spur Sri Lanka on and inspire something special at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019? That will be the larger picture around which the five-match series takes place.

Every move that Sri Lanka make going forward will be seen differently. South Africa will be wary of the two Pereras – Thisara and Kusal – who are now their most important cogs. Thisara has been in outrageous limited-overs form recently. In his last two ODIs, he has 220 runs from 137 balls, including a breathtaking innings of 140 off 74 balls that nearly turned the tables on New Zealand in a chase of 320 in Mount Maunganui.

Kusal, meanwhile, has always been a heavy striker, as testified by a career strike-rate of 91.28, and was one of the heroes of the Test series triumph.

If the Pereras offer destructive potential, Upul Tharanga offers experience, Kusal Mendis offers big-match temperament, and Akila Dananjaya offers raw talent. Sri Lanka’s biggest concern is with their captain Lasith Malinga, who is a diminishing force, but even he brings experience and knowledge like no one else.

South Africa are bullish at home, and have lost just one series there in the last five years. Their fast-bowling attack breathes fire, with Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi. They have two options to partner Quinton de Kock at the top in Rassie van der Dussen, who was the Mzansi Super League’s highest scorer, and Reeza Hendricks, who was handed a CSA national contract for 2019-20 on Friday, 1 March.

Tabraiz Shamsi and Imran Tahir offer the ideal mix of guile and experience, but South Africa’s middle order runs thin, with Faf du Plessis and David Miller the only ones with substantial experience.

For now, South Africa are slight favourites. But Sri Lanka took everyone by surprise in the Tests, and if they can compete just as well, it should make for a cracking series.

Key players

Quinton de Kock (South Africa): The South African wicket-keeper batsman is a more potent force at home. His average in home ODIs is 57.33 as opposed to a career average of 44.26, while his strike-rate of 103.55 is also significantly higher than his career strike-rate of 94.80. In the absence of much firepower in the middle order, a strong start from de Kock would especially go a long way in determining the course of the South African innings.

South Africa will rely heavily on Quinton de Kock's attacking brand of batsmanship South Africa will rely heavily on Quinton de Kock's attacking brand of batsmanship
Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka): Not long after his exploits in the New Zealand series, Perera was slamming 30 runs in an over in the 2018-19 Bangladesh Premier League. Perera has been simply unstoppable in recent times, and the pace offered by South Africa’s bowlers could work to his favour. However, he isn’t very comfortable against the short ball.

Conditions

Teams haven’t been able to compete much at the Wanderers lately. The margin of victory in the last four matches at this venue have been: By eight wickets with 111 balls to spare, by five wickets with 15 balls to spare via the D/L method, by seven wickets with 108 balls to spare, and by 142 runs. How will Sunday pan out? There are thunderstorms forecast on match eve, but none on match day.

Squads

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Willem Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Rassie van der Dussen

Sri Lanka: Lasith Malinga (c), Akila Dananjaya, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Oshada Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Angelo Perera, Kusal Perera, Priyamal Perera, Thisara Perera, Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan, Upul Tharanga, Isuru Udana

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1083291

 

[Dark Magician]

Ngidi is a gun fast bowler.

 

[MenInG]

RSA vs SL INPROGRESS

Sri Lanka 13/1 (1.4 ov)

South Africa opt to bowl

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

I'm amazed seeing all the empty seats in the stadium tho.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

I'm amazed seeing all the empty seats in the stadium tho.

It should pick up this afternoon. I hope

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

It should pick up this afternoon. I hope

South Africa are a gun team and if they can't attract major numbers for home matches, it pretty much tells what state cricket is in outside the big two three cricketing nations.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

South Africa are a gun team and if they can't attract major numbers for home matches, it pretty much tells what state cricket is in outside the big two three cricketing nations.

I attended two PAK vs SA matches (Day 3 (Saturday) in the test and a T20) in Cape Town recently, and the stadium was packed both times. It is Cape Town in summer though...

 

[Ozymandiasza]

Need a couple of wickets here.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

Collapse, 213/8.

 

[ILcricket]

195/4 to this , rather dramatic . I like the Tahir celebration

 

[ILcricket]

Nortje gets one . Does this guy have Test potential ?

 

[Ozymandiasza]

Good stuff from Tahir today

 

[a_tahir]

What happened to Tahir against Pak?

 

[Rana]

SL 231-all out (47.0 Ovs) CRR: 4.91
Innings Break

 

[Zeeraq]

Imran and Faf lead the way as Proteas cruise to opening ODI victory

Sunday, 03 March 2019

IMRAN TAHIR returned to his very best form and then Faf du Plessis hit his 11th century in the format as the Standard Bank Proteas coasted to an eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka with 11 overs to spare in the opening Momentum One-Day International at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday.

In terms of ICC World Cup preparation the Proteas ticked one very important box and that was their achievement in taking six wickets for 154 runs in the middle power play. This was after they had taken 2/59 in the opening power play and made certain that Sri Lanka would not be able to launch any kind of assault in the final one.

Imran (3/26) made the key contribution, taking all his wickets in the middle power play. He struck early with his fourth delivery to end an important third wicket stand of 76 between Kusal Perera and Oshada Fernando and then did the same in his second spell when he got rid of two batsmen well set in Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva to put an end to the other significant stand of 94 for the fifth wicket.

At one stage it looked as though Sri Lanka would go on to somewhere near the 300-run mark which is the benchmark for any side in this format but instead they were dismissed for a well below par total of 231 and failed to bat out their 50 overs.

Lungi Ngidi, making a successful return from injury, also took 3 wickets (3/60) while there was a debut wicket for Anrich Nortje and a 99th wicket in this format for Kagiso Rabada.

Sri Lanka did themselves no favour with their running between the wickets which accounted for the other two dismissals.

Mendis (60 off 73 balls, 5 fours and a six) was the only visiting batsman to go past the half-century mark although several others threatened to do so.

Whatever chance Sri Lanka had of staying in the contest effectively disappeared when Du Plessis was dropped on 32. He had hit his three previous deliveries from Thusara Perera for boundaries and the psychological impact for that lost opportunity must have been severe.

It opened the way for Du Plessis (112 not out off 114 balls, 15 fours and a six) and Quinton de Kock (81 off 72 balls, 11 fours) to overcome the potential threat posed by the Sri Lankan mystery spinners and lay the foundation for victory. Their partnership was worth 136 in 22 overs before Du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen finished off the job.

The latter continues to go from strength to strength and has now made 273 in 6 matches and has only been dismissed twice.

Du Plessis was named Momentum Man of the Match. This was his third century against Sri Lanka and his second at the Wanderers. It was also his career best at this venue.

The second Momentum ODI takes place at SuperSport Park on Wednesday (13h00 start).

 

[Hasan123]

Good win for South Africa. Sri Lanka batsmen threw away some good starts.