By Brian Thomas
It was bright and sunny in Colombo today. At the R. Premadasa Stadium, the curator used the first ODI pitch, that showed an abrasive natur , and a haven for spinners.
Sri Lanka made 3 changes to the side that lost the 2nd ODI. Dinesh Chandimal, a veteran of 150 ODI games replaced Minod Banuka, whilst Kamindu Mendis got the nod to bat at 3 for Banuka Rajapaksha, the host also brought in debutant Mahesh Theekshana for Akila Dhananjaya.
The ball started turning square from the second over of the day, and Sri Lanka winning toss electing to bat knew that run making on this extra dry pitch was difficult.
In the 4th over with Sri Lanka on 22 Avishka Fernando, the inform opener played back to a Maharaj arm ball and was ruled LBW with the aid of the DRS for 10.
The tall and lanky George Linde seems to love the Sri Lankan Lankan spinning wickets when bowled a fuller length tossed up delivery and had Dinesh Chandimal sweeping at and through DRS again got South Africa their 2nd Wicket with the score on 33. Chandimal will be disappointed with his effort of 9 runs on his come back match.
Kamindu Mendis looked impressive, but luck eluded the left hander when a George Linde top spinner stop on him off the surface and he was dismissed for 16 caught and bowled with Sri Lanka on 64.
Dhananjaya de Silva and inform Charith Asalanka by now realized the best way on this turning pitch is to milk the singles and try to bat the full quota of 50 overs.
With Sri Lanka breathing a bit Markram the off spinner had the dangerous looking De Silva when he nudged at a delivery pitched in line with his leg stump , the ball spun took his bat , clipping his pad and looped in the air for Klassan the keeper to take a catch diving almost near the forward short leg position and Silva was gone for 31 with Sri Lanka on 93 for 4 wickets.
Dasun Shanaka the captain joined Asalanka with Sri Lanka in dire straits, he too got over ambitious and was caught in same area as his dismissal in the 2nd ODI , deep mid wicket fence for 13 by Moulder to the left arm spin of his counter part Keshav Maharaj with the score on 112.
Hasaranga did not last long , with Sri Lanka on 121 for 5 wickets he gifted the proteas their 6th scalp trying to clear the long on fence.
Chamika Karunaratne then pushed the score on snail pace , due to the abrasive nature of the pitch with the reliable Asalanka but he too departed for 16 LBW to Shamsi with Sri Lanka sliding into deep water on 154 for 7 wickets.
Shamsi also claimed the prize scalp of Asalanka for 47 when had him caught off a wrong un by keeper Klassan, with the home side on 166 for 8 wickets.
The tail wagged thanks to Dusmantha Chameera who made 29 , and Sri Lanka to their credit batted the allotted 50 overs and closed their innings on 203 for 9 wickets.
For South Africa Skipper Maharaj took 3 for 38 Shamsi 2 for 31 , Linde 2 for 32 were the pick of the bowlers..
Will the proteas get to 204. Lets get the answer in our second half commentary.
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