South Africa’s national cricket team needs to chase down a target of 226 runs to complete a clean-sweep over Sri Lanka in the five-match One Day International series.
The Proteas bundled out the hapless Sri Lankans for a paltry 225 in the 50th over, in the fifth and final match at Newlands in Cape Town.
RUN OUT. Disappointment for Sri Lanka as Mendis departs for 56 thanks to miscommunication between him and Priyamal Perera. SL are 136/5 after 34.3 overs.#ProteaFire #SAvSL pic.twitter.com/S824nb3gul
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) March 16, 2019
The Proteas’ frontline seamers Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada ensured that the Proteas made good start with the ball, after losing the toss and being invited to bowl first.
Ngidi struck first removing opener Avishka Fernando for nine in his second over. Rabada followed up with the wicket of the other opener Upul Tharanga for two in the next over reducing the visitors to 14 for two.
Oshada Fernando and Kusal Mendis re-built their innings with a 49-run third wicket stand. When Fernando departed compliments of the spin of Imran Tahir for 22, Mendis, continued to dig in his heels, taking up the mantle with Angelo Perera.
The pair shared in a 62-run fourth wicket partnership, with Mendis notching up his 14th ODI half-century.
Just as it seemed like Sri Lankans were headed towards a competitive total, cruising on 136 for four in the 35th over, the in-form Mendis gifted the Proteas his wicket, again needlessly running himself out for 56 for the third time in this series.
The visitors lost another wicket in the next over slumping to 141 for six, but South Africa’s bowlers allowed the tail to provide some rear-guard action to lift their total passed the 200 mark.
Isuru Udana and Priyamal Perera put on 61-run eighth wicket partnership before Rabada dismissed the pair in consecutive deliveries for 33 and 32 runs respectively.
Sri Lanka was eventually bowled out for 225 in the 50th over, yet another total that’s well under-par and which shouldn’t prove too much of challenge for the Proteas.
The match had to be stopped due to bad lighting.
Bad light has stopped play. One of the stadium lights has not started up, so the stadium will try to reboot the system to get all the lights firing again.
SA are 135/2 after 28 overs & need 91 to win. Markram 67*, Van der Dussen 28.
The partnership is 57*.#ProteaFire #SAvSL pic.twitter.com/XtHcRSPKSm— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) March 16, 2019
