Clinical South Africa make it 2-0

After a humiliating loss in the first match, Sri Lanka put in a much improved performance at East London but South Africa proved too strong. Helped by Dinesh Chandimal’s 92, Sri Lanka were able to post a respectable 236 on the board. In reply, South Africa were powered by a free flowing Hashim Amla fifty and JP Duminy kept the chase going in the closing stages with steady 66-run knock. As a result, the hosts took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Given the strength of South Africa’s batting line-up, 237 was never going to be a tough task but the only thing they had to guard against was slowness of the pitch and Lasith Malinga’s yorkers. Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith started cautiously against the slinger but that meant the others in the bowling attack were targeted. Amla in particular, went after Nuwan Kalusekara- an inside-out drive that went all the way was probably shot of the match.

While Smith clearly struggled, Amla continued to bat as fluently as ever. With Sri Lankan bowlers failing to reign in the free flowing Amla, the score motored along. Contrarily, Smith was nowhere near his best and used up 55 balls for 28 runs before a Dhammika Prasad bumper ended his troubled stay. The same bowler removed the dangerous-looking Amla in the 21st over as Sri Lanka tried to claw their way back into the game. However, Amla with this sublime knock of 55 on a difficult surface justified his position as the number one batsman in ODIs.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka employed spin from both the ends in a bid to dry up the runs and force the batsmen into playing rash shots. But, JP Duminy and Jacques Kallis played the waiting game and concentrated on ones and twos till the batting powerplay in the 32nd over. By then, the South African chase was well on track at 136 for 2.

Kallis hit a boundary off Lasith Malinga but an attempted loft off Prasad found the man at cover boundary. Skipper de Villiers made 17 before a poor judgment cost him dear as he was run out at a crucial stage.

With the gap between runs and balls narrowing down, South Africa needed someone to play sheet anchor. Duminy did exactly that allowing others around him to play their natural games. Even though, there was modicum of excitement towards the end as Malinga removed Faf du Plessis and bowled some accurate yorkers. However, a level-headed Duminy ensured that there were no hiccups and took South Africa across the line with eight balls and five wickets to spare.

Earlier, Sri Lanka were asked to bat first under overcast skies as South Africa hoped for some early assistance after drizzle had delayed start of proceedings by about half an hour. However, first dismissal of the day had little to do with the batting conditions; Tillakaratne Dilshan took on the wrong fielder at point and was run-out on a direct hit from Faf du Plessis. With the South African bowlers giving nothing away, run scoring was difficult on the slow track. Kumar Sangakkara lost his patience after 27 deliveries to be caught behind off Lonwabo Tostosbe for three. After ten overs, Sri Lanka were in a spot of bother at 21 for two.

Things could have been worse for the visitors in the next over but Hotspot came to Upul Tharanga’s rescue after he was given out caught behind. In the company of Dinesh Chandimal, he set about the rebuilding job. To begin with, Chandimal struggled for timing and placement. Tharanga struck a huge six off JP Duminy to allow his partner time to get used to the slow pace of the wicket. With such occasional hits, he kept the score board moving even when runs were not coming from the other end.

Mainly due to Tharanga’s efforts, Sri Lanka went past three figures in the 28th over but an attempted steer to third-man in the next over resulted in a faint tickle that was pouched by de Villiers behind the stumps. By the time Tharanga went for 66, having contributed heavily in the 84-run stand for third wicket, Chandimal had got his eye in. Mahela Jayawardene couldn’t do much and once he departed, the onus fell on Chandimal to take Sri Lanka to a decent total.

Nuwan Kalusekara, promoted up the order in batting powerplay, used the long handle to good effect in a whirlwind 22 off 12 deliveries and gave the innings a much-needed impetus. Chandimal hit his second boundary after going past fifty and shifted gears in the last ten overs. With Angelo Mathews striking the ball cleanly, it was good old death batting on display. The last twelve overs yielded 95 runs as Sri Lanka reached 236 for 6, with Chandimal remaining unbeaten on 92. Mathews supported him well with run-a-ball 28.