MATCH REPORT
Follow UsOpener Janneman Malan scored 121, while spinner Tabrainz Shamsi claimed 5-49 as South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 67 runs in a rain-curtailed second ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The Proteas levelled the three-match series 1-1 with the win on Saturday.
Having lost captain Temba Bavuma to a fractured thumb, South Africa made three changes to its playing XI by bringing in Reeza Hendricks,Wiaan Mulder and handing ODI debut to all-rounder George Linde. Stand-in skipper Keshav Maharaj chose to bat after winning the toss in the rain-delayed 47-over game. Opener Janneman Malan looked confident against all Lankan bowlers as he and Aiden Markram (21 off 29 balls) put up a 43-run opening stand.
The 25-year old was then joined by Hendricks (51 off 54) as the duo added 96 runs for the second wicket. After Dhananjaya de Silva bowled Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen (16 off 25 balls) was dismissed by Wanindu Hasaranga, Malan was joined by Heinrich Klaasen who began attacking the spinners.
Malan, who was playing his ninth ODI, reached his third ton with a single off Dushmantha Chameera's 43rd over. Cramping under humid conditions, Malan finally departed in Chameera's 45th over, two balls after Klaasen was dismissed for a 43 off 27 balls. Mulder and Linde scored 13 runs off the final 47th over as South Africa posted 283/6.
Kagiso Rabada, who was quiet in the first game, roared back with the wickets of Avishka Fernando (8 off 15 balls) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (0) in the fifth over. Mulder then removed Minod Bhanuka in the next over as Sri Lanka were reduced to 19/3 in 5.1 overs. Dhananjaya de Silva (12 off 24 balls) and Charith Asalanka (77 off 69 balls) added 41 runs before Shamsi got the wicket of De Silva in the 15th over.
Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka joined Asalanka as the pair faced South African spinners confidently. Asalanka, who scored 72 in the first match, reached his third ODI fifty in 57 balls before rain interrupted the match for the second time.
Sri Lanka's target was revised to 265 in 41 overs as they resumed play, needing 151 runs off 15 overs. With the required run rate climbing up, Shanaka (30 off 41 balls) heaved Shamsi straight to Linde in the 26th over bringing an end to the 64-run stand with Asalanka. Hasaranga didn't last long as he played a return catch to Linde while Asalanka too perished trying to hit Shamsi over deep mid-wicket.
With 118 runs needed off 73 balls, Chamika Karunaratne smashed a boundary and two sixes in his 23-ball 36 before returning as the ninth wicket in Maharaj's in 36th over. Shamsi cleaned up Chameera and Akila Dhananjaya as South Africa wrapped up the match in the 37th over.
