South Africa v Sri Lanka: key plays
MOMENT OF THE DAY
AB de Villiers had a quiet day with the bat, scoring just four, but such is his class in the field that he still had a defining impact upon the result. With Sri Lanka 94-1 in the 12th over, South Africa were under the cosh but de Villiers got some impressive hang time to pluck a catch out of the air at straight short midwicket and send Kusal Mendis on his way. The best was yet to come, though. After making a half-stop at extra-cover, the Proteas skipper collected the ball and, still off balance, flicked it at the stumps to effect a direct hit with Dinesh Chandimal a foot short of his ground. It was a stunning bit of fielding from which Sri Lanka never recovered.
MAN OF THE DAY – SOUTH AFRICA: IMRAN TAHIR
Hashim Amla was majestic in bringing up his 25th ODI century – making him the fifth batsman after Tendulkar, Ponting, Jayasuriya and Kohli to reach the landmark – but Imran Tahir’s intervention with the ball was even more emphatic. He was able to show off his trademark wicket-taking celebration on four occasions, sprinting away in delight as he left Sri Lanka’s batsmen in a spin. His googly to dismiss Chamara Kapugedera was the ball of the day. In this kind of form he will be leapfrogging teammate Kagiso Rabada to reclaim top spot in the ICC ODI Bowling Rankings.
MAN OF THE DAY – SRI LANKA: UPUL THARANGA
Stepping in as captain for the injured Angelo Mathews, Tharanga juggled his bowlers impressively to keep South Africa below 300 when a score in excess of 330 looked on the cards at one stage. The 32-year-old anchored the innings well for his side initially, scoring a patient half-century, but had little support once his opening partner Niroshan Dickwella departed. He eventually succumbed to a catch in the deep after trying to force the pace.
STAT OF THE DAY
Since the 2015 ICC World Cup, Morne Morkel averages 16 when bowling against left-handers, compared to 58 against right-handers, so, given that Sri Lanka has two southpaw openers, it was a surprise that it took de Villiers nine overs to bring him into the attack. When he was thrown the ball it took the giant South African quick just two deliveries to strike, the dangerous Niroshan Dickwella slicing a catch to third-man.
SHOT OF THE DAY
Whereas South Africa struggled to take advantage of the first powerplay, scoring just 32 runs, Sri Lanka came out all guns blazing, racking up 87. The main aggressor was Dickwella, the diminutive keeper racing to 41 from 33 deliveries and playing some enterprising shots along the way. The standout stroke came in Rabada’s fourth over when Dickwella swivelled his hips and whipped a length delivery over midwicket and into the stands. There was more than a hint of the great Sanath Jayasuriya in the stroke.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Tahir, South Africa’s number 11 batsman, might have been a bit miffed if he caught AB de Villiers’ interview at the toss. “We still bat down to number eight or nine,” said the Proteas skipper. “Even number 10 can hold a bat.”