By Brian Thomas
It was excitement till the penultimate over at Sharjah today , as the Sri Lankans were put into bat by the South African captain Temba Bauma.
Kushal Perera dissapointed yet again. He played across the line of a Nortje straight delivery and was cleaned up , comprehensively bowled for 7.
Charith Asalanka was great to watch. He played the South African attack with great composure. Batting on 21 , with Pathum Nisanka, he sadly made a mistake by testing the throwing arm of Kagisgo Rabada and was run out for 21.
Whilst the rest of the Sri Lankan batters struggled against South African bowling Pathum Nissanka , one felt was batting on a diffrent pitch.
Tamzie Shamsi spun a web round the Sri Lankan batters. His first victim was Bhanuka Rajapaksha caught and bowled for a golden duck. Avishka Fernando seems to maintain his poor form , caught and bowled by Shamsi for 4 , and his third victim was Hasaranga caught at deep mid on for 4 , hence the Sri Lankan batters were guilty of gifting their wickets to the left arm spinner who took 3 for 16 runs.
Pretourouse joind the fun , scalped 3 for 19 , and Sri Lanka folded for 142.
Pathum Nissanka was outstanding with his career best 72 , power packed innings with great commitment.
143 as a target was not a big target for the Protease. The South Africans choked till David Miller spoilt the Sri Lankan party by thumping Lahiru Kumara for 2 sixes on the trott to see tge Proteas home by 4 Wickets, with one ball to spare.
Hasaranga took 3 for 20 , Dusmantha Chameera 2 for 27 , was very impressive. For South Africa , Temba Bauma the captain who was dropped by Kushal Janith when he was on 19 made 46. David Miller was unbeaten on 23.
Credit to Sri Lanka they were very competitive , and South Africans were saved by the bell.
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