South Africa v Sri Lanka , 4th ODI, Pallekele
The Report by Firdose Moonda
July 28, 2013
Sri Lanka 239 for 2 (Dilshan 115*, Sangakkara 91) beat South Africa 238 (Duminy 97, Mendis 4-51)
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
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Related Links
Players/Officials:
Hashim Amla
| Jean-Paul Duminy
Series/Tournaments:
South Africa tour of Sri Lanka
Teams:
South Africa
| Sri Lanka
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An unbeaten century from Tillakaratne Dilshan and 91 from Kumar
Sangakkara carried Sri Lanka to a series win over South Africa with one
match to play. The pair ensured the hosts gained the highest
successful run chase at Pallekele with six overs to spare to underline
some of South Africa's most pressing issues as they attempt to rebuild
their one-day side.
At first glance, it would seem the bowlers are to blame but South
Africa's middle-order are the real culprits in their defeat. Hashim Amla
and JP Duminy shared a second-wicket stand of 101 to set a strong base
for the team but the batsmen who followed squandered the advantage.
From 118 for 1, South Africa were 238 all out, losing nine wickets for
120 runs. By contrast, Dilshan and Sangakkara shared a partnership of
184 - Sri Lanka's highest against South Africa - to maintain their
strong record at home against South Africa.
South Africa have only won two ODIs in Sri Lanka and their inability to
adapt to conditions was showed again. The absence of quality spinners
and senior players to take responsibility in the batting line-up cost
them dearly and they will now return to Colombo with only pride to play
for.
South Africa began to make some amends for their failings with the bat
and Hashim Amla's return was central to that. Amla, who missed the first
and third match with injury and could not bat in the second, recovered
in time to form one half of South Africa's fourth opening pair in as
many matches.
While Quinton de Kock's inexperience was exposed against Lasith Malinga,
when he was yorked for 8, Amla had the Sri Lankan attack erring. The
seamers continually offered him too much width and he pulled and cut at
will.
Amla and JP Duminy, who has looked good without producing results in the
series so far, settled in and took the batting powerplay after 15
overs. That proved a tactical mistake. Sri Lanka's slew of spinners
limited run-scoring opportunities and only 22 were scored in the
five-over period.
The pair succeeded in planting a platform but Amla did not stick around
to help the launch from it. He was lbw to Dilshan, who went around the
wicket to trap him on the back foot, and even a review could not save
him.
AB de Villiers' lean run continued as he was caught behind trying to
paddle-sweep. Faf du Plessis also did not contribute, offering a chance
to Angelo Mathews in his follow-through and eventually being stumped.
Ajantha Mendis foxed the less-experienced players, who have not learnt
to pick him. David Miller was bowled by the legbreak and Farhaan
Behardien clipped him straight to short leg.
The fall of wickets forced Duminy to continue a quiet vigil and his
strike rate remained in the 60s, until the last four overs, when he
finally decided to launch against Malinga. Duminy managed to improvise,
turning would-be yorkers into low full-tosses, but Malinga's change of
pace accounted for the tail.
Still, South Africa would have thought they had enough with 198 the
previous-best successful chase in Pallekele. Their bowlers started well
against a changed Sri Lankan top order - with Mahela Jayawardene
replacing Upula Tharanga - as Morne Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe
extracted extra bounce and got movement, but ill-discipline infected
them again. South Africa sent down 17 wides, taking their series total
to 58, and indicating an obvious problem with line.
Jayawardene was frustrated by the early squeeze and when he tried to
steer Tsotsobe to third man, he was caught by a diving Amla at gully.
That was the last success South Africa saw until it was too late.
Dilshan showed a willingness to ride out the pressure and looked for
singles with Sangakkara instead of going for big shots to thwart the
bowlers.
But South Africa still had their chances. Sangakkara was on three when
he cutting Kleinveldt but Amla could not pull off the half chance, and on
33, when Duminy appealed for an lbw against him. South Africa had a
review in hand but de Villiers chose not to use it. Afterwards, he said
neither Duminy nor de Kock, who was keeping, were convinced, Replays,
though, showed Sangakkara was out.
His flirtation with fortune over, Sangakkara matches Dilshan blow for
blow thereafter. Dilshan was strong square of the wicket and on the pull
and brought out his trademark scoop off Tsotsobe. His century came off
119 balls with a swivel down to fine leg.
Sangakkara peppered the on-side, with 52 of his runs coming in that
area. After Dilshan crossed the century mark, Sangakkara was racing
against the remaining runs to get there. He evoked Morkel for two fours
to get into the nineties, but fell on his sword when he top-edged to
mid-off.
Dilshan finished things off to leave South Africa with plenty to think
about. Foremost in their minds will be their poor effort in the field,
and their decision-making under pressure, both of which need work before
Wednesday.
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