By Brain Thomas
Sri Lanka sealed an easy 78-run win over South Africa in the third and final ODI in Colombo to bag the series 2-1 and 20 more ICC ODI Super League points. Set 204, South Africa crumbled to 125 in 30 overs after a top-order meltdown that left them reeling at 54 for 6.
What a spinner debutant Theekshana proved to be, his carom ball, the variation of line, length and loop will make even Ajantha Mendis proud of his look-alike.
Defending a modest total of 203 against a quality batting line-up, on any condition against South Africa is never an easy task.
Aiden Markram, who scored a brilliant 96 in the first ODI , started an early slide for the Protease cause when he jabbed at a Jayawickrema spinner turning away from him with hard hands to give Sri Lanka the breakthrough to set the tone for victory.
With Markram gone for just 2 runs and South African total on 8 , Dusmantha Chameera did his magic.
Reza Hendricks was bamboozled by an inswinger for just one run and the visitors felt the scoreboard pressure on the wearing pitch with the score on 9.
Chameera stuck again. He had Rassie Van Daussan caught by Kamindu Mendis, a blinder at mid wicket for 5 and this dismissal set the cat amongst the pigeons with the visitors on 19 runs for 3 wickets. Mahesh Theekshana was introduced into international cricket for the first time. He became the 4th Sri Lankan to take a first-ball wicket on debut when he had Janemann Marlan caught at slip for 18 just before the rain break for 18, hence South Africa was on a reverse gear mode on 45 runs for 4 wickets.
Soon after the 40 minutes rain break Hasaranga bowled a googly which Wiann Mulder failed to pick , timber shattered South Africa slumped to 48 for 5. Hendrich Klassan looked composed batting well on 22 , he failed to pick a slider from Theekshana and was caught plum in front LBW giving the debutant his 2nd Wicket as South Africa looked down the barrel on 54 for 6 . George Linde and Andline Phehlukwayo, were struggling against the quality spin from both ends. Hasaranga and Theekshana simply choked the two left-handers.
It was part-time bowler the man of the series prospect who had Phehlukwayo walking back to the hutch brilliantly caught by keeper Chandimal for 17, with the score on 90 for 7 wickets, the result at this point in time looked inevitable.
Rabada stuck around executed a great on drive for a boundary, Dhananjaya de Silva took a spectacular catch at slips by diving in front as the ballooned off his bat off Theekshana and the scoreboard read a sorry reading, 100 for 8 Wickets South Africa. George Linde tried a mighty heave in sheer frustration, for Mendis to take a catch at deep mid-wicket and Wanindu Hasaranga, celebrating his second scalp.
What a dream debut for Mahesh Theekshana , Keshv Maharaj and Tabraz Shamsi stitched a 23 run partnership for the last wicket, and Theekshana was bowling his last delivery of his allotted 10 overs, he bowled a carom ball at the South African skipper and he edged to Chandimal the keeper and the curtain closed, with South Africa all out for 125 runs, giving Sri Lanka a comprehensive 78 runs win and also giving the home team a two-one series win.
Sri Lanka now climbed up the ladder to 5th place in ICC World Cup Points table. This is a great win. Charith Akalanka man of the series and Mahesh Theekshana man of the match.
Can you ask for a better bargain?
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