by Brain Thomas
Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka, won the toss elected to bat , but would have never bargained for being rolled over for 103 runs in 18.1 overs at the his home turf at Premadasa stadium.
With two changes to the team , with Bhanuka Rajapaksha retaining his place in the side at the expense of Avishka Fernando, and Akila Dhananjaya giving way to Praveen Jayawickrema, the home team displayed yet another poor batting performance, on a spin friendly pitch.
Dinesh Chandimal was not lucky this time when he gave South Africa an early break through , trapped by a slow bouncer from Andrich Nortji for 5 with Sri Lanka on 10 runs .
Bhanuka Rajapaksha looked very impressive despite his struggle against the short back of a length deliveries, however credit to him he made 20 runs off 13 ball and also thumped Rabada for a fatastic six in the region of mid wicket. Adrian Markram with his career best of 3 for 21 had him caught and bowled off a full toss with the score on 38.
Sri Lanka thanks to Kushal Perera advance to a competitive power play score of 52 runs for 2 wickets, but that joy was short lived, when Dhananjaya de Silva went down the track to be stumped by De kock 4 runs , thus putting Shamzi the leading wicket taker in this format for his 3 for 21 in this game.
With the score on 59 for 3 wickets, skipper Dasun Shanaka, after hiking Shamsi for a 6 was cleaned up in the very next ball , showing a bit of immaturity by not playing with a straight bat for an arm delivery.
Markram seems to be the man with the golden arm today. He had the price scalp of Kushal Perera, for 30 , when he played across the line for a straight delivery plum in front. Sri Lanka sink to 78 for 5 Wickets.
Hasaranga is not a batting sensation. Bjon Fortuin had him neck and crop for 4 runs off a quicker delivery with the score on 86.
Charith Asalanka and Chamika Karunaratne, milked with singles got Sri Lanka upto 100 runs , but Shamsi spun a delivery from way outside the right handers off stum , disturbed his timber for 8 runs with the home team on 100 for 7 wickets.
Sri Lanka lost 3 wickets for 3 runs and could not even bat the 20 overs bowled out for 103.
Asalanka made 14 before being the second caught and bowled victim of Markram. Chameera did not make headway getting on the back foot to be Lbw for 1 , whist Theekshana did not bother the scores Lbw to Maharaj.
Pick of the bowlers Markram 3 for 31 and Shamsi 3 for 20. Excellent bowling display by South Africa.
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