Tight win for Sri Lanka in last ODI

Another solid batting show helped Sri Lanka overhaul a 313-run target in the last match at Johannesburg to end the series on a high. Having already lost the series, it was the second consecutive 300 plus run chase that was completed successfully even as South African bowlers failed to defend a big total once again. Kumar Sangakkara anchored the chase with a fine century after similar efforts by Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers had boosted the hosts to 312.

Despite good batting conditions, Sri Lanka needed a bright start to chase down the big total for second time running. Moreover, the prospect of rain warranted that the visitors lost very few wickets early on in case the Duckworth Lewis came into play. However, South Africa could have removed Upul Tharanga only in the third over only for Morne Morkel to miss a caught and bowled chance he should have gobbled up. In the same over, Dilshan hit two boundaries to add insult to injury.

By the time rain finally arrived in the eighth over, Sri Lanka had raced to 56 for no loss, courtesy some attacking strokes from the Sri Lankan openers. Showers held up play for about an hour but the ground-staff ensured no overs were lost. After the break, the opening partnership was extended to 72 before JP Duminy pulled off a screamer to send back Tharanga for well-made 46. After Lonwabo Tsotsobe provided his team a much-needed breakthrough, Dilshan too fell to the same man.

That left for Kumar Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal some repair work. They not needed to build a partnership but also had to keep the asking rate under control. With Sangakkara managing to hit the odd boundary, the ones and twos kept the chase going till Chandimal was caught behind in the 30th over.

While Sangakkara’s presence at the crease was enough to keep the Sri Lankan hopes alive but he needed someone at the other end to play the supporting role. In Lahiru Thirimanne, he found an excellent partner. The resulting hundred run partnership during which Sangakkara completed his century took Sri Lanka close to the finishing line.

Sri Lanka needed 38 off 35 deliveries when Sangakkara holed out at long-on. In the next over, Morne conceded three boundaries. But, there was still a twist in the tale. Three wickets in four deliveries almost robbed the visitors of a win. Sachithra Senanayake sealed the issue on the second-last ball by dispatching Robin Petersen out of the park.

Earlier, AB de Villiers and Graeme Smith produced brilliant centuries to power South Africa to a huge score of 312 for 4. Although, Sri Lanka managed to keep the hosts under check during first half of the innings but the two senior pros exploded towards the end, de Villiers, in particular went ballistic to finish unbeaten on 125 off 98 deliveries. Smith was sedate in comparison; his 125 runs came in 143 deliveries.

On a wicket that has always been a batting beauty; the decision to bat first didn’t go well as South Africa lost two wickets and the run rate hovered around the four per over mark. Alviro Petersen was caught off Lasith Malinga’s bowling in the fourth over and the surprise promotion of Faf du Plessis to number three yielded only 24 runs. Smith, who scored a fifty in the last match, wasn’t at his best to begin with. As a result, South Africa made little progress till de Villiers came to the crease at 70 for two in the eighteenth over.

His first few strokes gave least indication of what was to follow. After getting his eye in, de Villiers initiated the charge, first delivery of the 26th over disappeared over cowcorner. Smith also joined in the fun as offie Sachithra Senanayake was carted into the stands. Shortly afterwards, the batting powerplay was taken and a flurry of boundaries resulted. In the five-over block, the Proteas added 44 runs.

Smith brought up his first century in about three years with a single, celebrated the occasion with two monstrous hits off Senanayake that sailed over deep midwicket. While Sri Lanka had plugged de Villiers' scoring area- cover region, the in-form batter found another scoring spot. On many occasions, he walked across his stumps to help the ball fly through fine-leg.

Smith was caught behind for 143-ball 125 but de Villiers carried on unhindered. Having been provided a life on 84, he reached his 12th ton in ODIs with an audacious six off Malinga. He went downtown against Thisara Parera in the penultimate over to take his side past 300. Due to de Villiers' blitzkrieg, South Africa were able to add 209 in 25 overs, finishing with 312.