COLOMBO: Spinner Tabraiz Shamsi starred with career-best five wickets as South Africa won a rain-affected second One-day International against Sri Lanka by 67 runs to level their three-match series at 1-1 in Colombo on Saturday (partly reported in Sunday’s edition).

The series decider s on Tuesday at the same R. Premadasa International Stadium.

“I think the boys showed energy, set the tone, had good motivation,” said Maharaj. “Fair play to the coach to play three spinners . We wanted to capitalise and we did.”

Keshav Maharaj led the side to the comeback victory after they lost the opener and regular skipper Temba Bavuma, who was ruled out of the limited-overs series with a broken thumb.

Batting first, South Africa rode on opener Janneman Malan’s third ODI century — 121 — to post a total of 283-6 from 47 overs after rain delayed the start.

Malan featured in two big partnerships: 96 for the second wicket with Reeza Hendricks, and 86 for the fourth with Heinrich Klaasen.

He ran so much between the wickets that he endured cramp, and was eventually out lbw in the 45th over. Hendricks added 51 and Klaasen 43 from 27 balls.

Further rain then interrupted Sri Lanka’s chase after 25 overs at 114-4. The target was reduced to 265 in 41 overs, but it was never likely to be achieved. The home side was undermined at the start in falling to 19-3 and didn’t recover despite Charith Asalanka’s career-best 77. Unorthodox left-armer Shamsi returned figures of 5-49 in 7.4 overs.

Sri Lanka won the first ODI by 14 runs after making 300 but South Africa bowled better two days later, especially at the start of the chase.

Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada took out Avishka Fernando and Bhanuka Rajapaksa within four balls, and when Wiaan Mulder induced an edge from Minod Bhanuka, Sri Lanka was 19-3 and in deep trouble.

Asalanka entertained with 77 from 69 deliveries, including three sixes and five boundaries, but he also exited early, in the 29th over to Shamsi.

“We started well, but [the] Reeza-Janneman partnership took the game away from us,” Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka said. “Our fielding wasn’t up to the standard. Bowling was a concern too.”

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA:

J.N. Malan lbw b Chameera121

A.K. Markram c Bhanuka b Karunaratne21

R.R. Hendricks b de Silva51

H.E. van der Dussen st Bhanuka b Hasaranga16

H. Klaasen c Shanaka b Chameera43

A.L. Phehlukwayo c and b Karunaratne4

P.W.A. Mulder not out5

G.F. Linde not out9

EXTRAS (B-1, W-11, NB-1)13

TOTAL (for six wkts, 47 overs)283

FALL OF WKTS: 1-43, 2-139, 3-177, 4-263, 5-263, 6-269.

DID NOT BAT: K.A. Maharaj, K. Rabada, T. Shamsi.

BOWLING: Chameera 7-0-52-2 (1nb, 6w); Jayawickrama 8-0-46-0 (1w); Dananjaya 7-0-46-0; Karunaratne 5-0-24-2 (4w); Hasaranga 10-0-63-1; Shanaka 3-0-21-0; de Silva 7-0-30-1.

SRI LANKA (revised target 265 in 41 overs):

W.I.A. Fernando c R Hendricks b Rabada8

M. Bhanuka c Klaasen b Mulder7

P.B.B. Rajapaksa c Klaasen b Rabada0

D.M. de Silva c Klaasen b Shamsi12

K.I.C. Asalanka c sub b Shamsi77

M.D. Shanaka c Linde b Shamsi30

W. Hasaranga c and b Linde3

C. Karunaratne b Maharaj36

P.V.D. Chameera b Shamsi11

A. Dananjaya c Markram b Shamsi3

P. Jayawickrama not out1

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-7)9

TOTAL (all out, 36.4 overs)197

FALL OF WKTS: 1-18, 2-18, 3-19, 4-61, 5-125, 6-141, 7-147, 8-192, 9-194.

BOWLING: Rabada 6-0-16-2 (1w); Mulder 5-0-30-1 (4w); Maharaj 8-0-32-1; Shamsi 7.4-0-49-5; Phehlukwayo 5-0-28-0 (2w); Linde 5-0-40-1.

RESULT: South Africa won by 67 runs (DLS method) to level three-match series 1-1.

UMPIRES: H.D.P.K. Dharmasena (Sri Lanka) and R.R. Wimalasiri (Sri Lanka).

TV UMPIRE: R.S.A. Palliyaguruge (Sri Lanka).

MATCH REFEREE: R.S. Madugalle (Sri Lanka).

PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH: Janneman Malan.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2021