Proteas crumble to another heavy defeat

News

Cricket365
July 31, 2013

South Africa's one-day series against Sri Lanka came to an end on Wednesday, with the fifth match seeing the hosts winning by massive 128 runs in Colombo thanks to their prolific top order.

Tillakaratne Dilshan made a pleasing-but-frustrating 99, while Lahiru Thirimanne added 68 and Kumar Sangakkara hit 75 not out off 45 balls to lead the hosts to 307 for four. The Proteas top order did the opposite, and the visitors were all out for 179.

The action moved back to Colombo for the final game, with Sri Lanka looking for a four-one win. They won the toss and chose to bat, judging the pitch to be great for batting, which it proved to be. For them.

Kushal Perera was one of the only failures, bowled by Morne Morkel for nine early in the knock. But Dilshan and Thirimanne made light work of the Proteas' attack, putting on 163 runs in just under 30 overs.

Thirimanne was the second wicket to fall, having used 93 balls for his 68. He tried to take Aaron Phangiso on, but scooped the ball to JP Duminy in the deep, and he took a good catch with the sun in his eyes.

Dilshan's effort for another century was thwarted by Ryan McLaren one run short, with the paceman firing the ball at his feet and Dilshan had to trudge off after facing 110 balls and hitting 13 fours.

Sangakkara then took the bowling attack to the cleaners, first alongside Angelo Mathews, who made 23, and then with Thisara Perera at the other end. The veteran keeper hit 12 fours in his knock, while the SA bowler sent down eight wides.

South Africa's knock was doomed from the start, as Quinton de Kock was bowled for the second time in two games. He made 27 of the 35 runs on the board, before Sachithra Senanayake snuck through the gate.

Hashim Amla was next to fall, also to Senanayake, who trapped the dangerous batsman in front (also for the second time in two games). There was no recovering after this as Duminy fell for 15 and Faf du Plessis made just six runs.

AB de Villiers was the lone fighter for the embattled visitors, but his 51 was nowhere near enough as wickets tumbled around him. He was eventually out in the 33rd over to Ajantha Mendis, having watched David Miller and Farhaan Behardien depart for none and one respectively.

Mendis ended the game with three wickets, adding McLaren and Morkel to his tally, while Suranga Lakmal took the final wicket of Lonwabo Tsotsobe to end the game in the 44th over.

The sides next play three T20 games, starting on Friday in Colombo, and then moving to Hambantota for the other two. Proteas coach Russell Domingo has two days to figure out how to rectify the lack or runs and wickets.