Sri Lanka elects to field against Proteas

Sri Lanka have won the toss and have decided to bowl first against South Africa in the third and final Twenty20 International at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday.

The Proteas have already clinched the three-match series with their 16-run victory at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday and the big question on everyone’s lips is ‘can Sri Lanka step up on their final match on tour - a dead-rubber - and entertain the fans?’

After the first match in Cape Town, where the teams produced a real humdinger, sending the game into a Super Over, where Imran Tahir kept his nerve to hand South Africa a nine-run victory, the Lankans capitulated in the second match on Friday, collapsing to 83 for seven in pursuit of 181 for victory.

It was only Isuru Udana who gave some respectability to the margin of defeat, smashing a breathtaking unbeaten 84 from on 48 balls, coming in at number 8, an innings which included eight boundaries and four maximums. Dale Steyn (2-34) and Chris Morris (3-32) had knocked the stuffing out of the visitors within the first four overs.

Steyn grabbed the wickets of Avishka Fernando (0) and Kusal Mendis (4) within the first over and then Morris dismissed Niroshan Dickwella (20) and Kamindu Mendis (0) in his second over to leave Sri Lanka reeling on 31 for four after four overs.

Udana’s pyrotechnics later on in the innings started to give the South African’s some nervous moments in the dugout as the target came ever-closer but Tabraiz Shamsi (2-16) and Morris saw the innings out as Sri Lanka finished on 164 for nine.

Aiden Markram’s debut in the shortest format was short-lived, as the potential World Cup-bound opener fell for just three but Reeza Hendricks (another World Cup hopeful) and Rassie van der Dussen posted the highest second-wicket partnership in Centurion, posting 116, with Hendricks making 65 from 46 balls and Van der Dussen, 64 from 44 deliveries.

Stand-in captain JP Duminy was in sparkling form, stroking two fours and two sixes on his way to an unbeaten 33 from 17 balls.

South Africa had to make a host of changes after the first T20 in Cape Town with captain Faf du Plessis, Tahir and Quinton de Kock all heading off to India to take part in the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League while Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi had to sit out through injury.

Another debutant from Friday’s match, wicketkeeper-batsman Sinethemba Qeshile was positive and tidy behind the stumps, claiming two catches off Dwaine Pretorius and Morris, and will look to have another opportunity in today’s game despite the presence of stand-in ‘keeper David Miller, who kept wicket in the first T20 with some aplomb.

After losing the test series 2-0 to the unfancied Lankans, South Africa have powered their way to a 5-0 drubbing in the one-day internationals and now have a chance to really make a statement, albeit against a young Sri Lankan side, by hammering home the advantage by sealing the T20 series 3-0.

Source: SuperSport
-Agencies