3rd ODI, Colombo, September 07, 2021, 02:30 PM
Sri Lanka
203/9(50.0ov)
South Africa
125/10(30.0ov)
Sri Lanka beat South Africa by 78 runs
Right then! That's all from this game! Sri Lanka have taken the series 2-1 and go into the T20I series with a lot of confidence. South Africa, on the other hand, would be disappointed with this performance but they have some of the regular players back for the T20I series. The T20I series is set to begin on Friday, September 10th, 2021 at 8 pm local (2.30 pm GMT). Do join us then. Cheers and take care.
Dasun Shanaka, the Sri Lankan skipper, says that it is really pleasing as they have won a series after a long time. Adds that they have played really good cricket this series. Goes onto say that toss played a major role and winning it made a really good impact on this match. Tells that he thought that 230 would have been an ideal score but 203 turned out to be a very good score. Says that Maheesh Theekshana proved to be a decisive bowler and he is a bright prospect for them going forward. States that he should have stayed there with the bat more. Says that he wanted to bat more lower and he really wanted to contribute.
Keshav Maharaj, the South African skipper, says that the bowlers did really well and the wicket was slow. Tells that the batting did not go to plan. Credits Sri Lanka for playing really well. States that the first Powerplay set them back. Goes onto say that if you look at the first two games, the batters were very positive but it did not work in this game. On the mindset for the T20Is, Maharaj admits that it is back to the drawing board but also asserts that they will get a few senior players back in the T20I series.
Charith Asalanka, the Man of the Series, says that he is glad to be the Man of the Series and he is very happy. Adds that he made a plan to take singles and he enjoyed it. Adds that he feels that he did the job for his team. States that they were looking for 230 to 240 but when Hasaranga and Shanaka got out, they looked at getting to 220.
Dushmantha Chameera, the Man of the Match, says that the wicket was a bit slow and he tried to bowl good lengths consistently. Adds that he had rough injuries past few years and he tried to get himself fit and he practiced well the last few months.
Stay tuned for the presentation ceremony!
South Africa never looked like chasing this total down! They kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. Markram fell quickly while Hendricks and van der Dussen did not last long. Malan looked good till he was out there but he fell before rain stopped things for a while. There was no return from there as whoever came out to bat simply fell prey to the Sri Lankan bowlers. Overall, it was a pretty disappointing performance from the South African batsmen.
Sri Lanka rolled over South Africa pretty easily! They started brilliantly with the ball as Praveen Jayawickrama sent back Aiden Markram pretty early and then on a pitch which was not aiding the seamers, Dushmantha Chameera bowled beautifully and chipped in with two wickets. Then it was the debutant's show. Maheesh Theekshana simply bamboozled the batsmen with his mystery spin, taking 4 wickets. Hasaranga was brilliant as well while Charith Asalanka bowled well in his first over.
What a bowling performance and Sri Lanka have taken the series 2-1! The hosts have been absolutely brilliant and they also get some valuable points in the World Cup Super League. A simply sensational performance here and they deserve the series win. South Africa, on the other hand, crumbled and they will be disappointed with this performance.
In over# 30
0W
0
0
0
4
0
Maheesh Theekshana 37/4(10)
29.6
W
OUT! TAKEN! Four wickets on debut for Maheesh Theekshana. He bowls a carrom ball, around off. Keshav Maharaj looks to defend it off the front foot. The ball goes off the outside edge back to Dinesh Chandimal who takes the catch behind the stumps. SRI LANKA WIN BY 78 RUNS.
29.5
.
Around off, Maharaj pushes it to extra cover.
29.4
.
Loopy ball on middle. Maharaj pushes it back to the bowler.
29.3
.
Full and outside off, driven towards cover.
29.2
4
FOUR! Excellent shot! Tossed up on off, Keshav Maharaj prods, presents the full face of the bat and lofts it over mid off for a boundary.
29.1
.
Floated it up on off, Maharaj blocks it out.
In over# 29
0
0
0
0
0
0
Wanindu Hasaranga 32/2(8)
28.6
.
Tossed up outside off, Tabraiz Shamsi swings his bat hard but inside-edges it onto the pads.
28.5
.
Floated it up, on off. Tabraiz Shamsi looks to cut but misses.
28.4
.
A googly on off, Shamsi dabs it to backward point.