Published: Jul 23, 2013, 07:35 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 23, 2013, 07:35 PM (IST)
Morne Morkel (centre) was the pick of the bowlers with figures of three for 34 against Sri Lanka in the second ODI © AFP
Jul 23, 2013
After a forgettable performance in the first One-Day International on Saturday, the South African bowlers enjoyed a field day as they restricted Sri Lanka to 223 for nine in the second ODI in Colombo.
Despite giving away as many as 20 runs in wides, the visitors did well to put effective breaks on the scoring by picking up wickets at regular intervals. Morne Morkel finshed as the pick of the bowlers with figures of three for 34, while the others chipped in with a wicket each.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Sri Lanka were pegged back through a spectacular catch by Robin Peterson to dismiss opener Upul Tharanga in the fourth over. A quick, short delivery from Morkel forced Tharanga to go for a pull shot and Peterson, at backward point, ran backwards and took a good diving catch.
Sri Lanka’s hero from the first ODI — Kumar Sangakkara walked out with the score at seven for one. He and Tillakaratne Dilshan did well to add 59 runs for the second wicket before Aaron Phangiso got the better of Sangakkara in the 18th over. A perseverant Phangiso flighted the ball continuously and managed to force Sangakkara to go after him and eventually perish in the process.
Former skipper Mahela Jayawardene and Dilshan, then came together to rebuild the Sri Lankan innings. They added 40 runs and took the team total past the three-figure mark. However, Jayawardene’s cheeky attempt to play a reverse sweep went against him as he missed a flighted delivery from Peterson which crashed onto the stumps.
At this stage, Sri Lanka were on 106 for three in the 27th over. Pandemonium struck when Dilshan departed just a couple of overs later. The aggressive opener played a scratchy knock of 43 from 64 deliveries which comprised of a solitary boundary.
Lahiru Thirimanne and Dinesh Chandimal were at the crease after the top-order was wiped out by the 30th over. They struggled to keep the scoreboard ticking and added just 23 runs from 35 deliveries before Thirimanne was dismissed. South Africa brought Ryan McLaren into the attack and a full delivery first up, led to a huge appeal. The umpire ruled it in favour of South Africa and Thirimanne went for a review. Despite a doubt regarding the ball missing the leg stump, the third umpire did not overturn the original decision and Thirimanne had to walk back. With this wicket, Sri Lanka had lost half its side with the score on 143 in the 36th over.
Just when South Africa had taken complete control of the innings, rain came along and so did an injury as Hashim Amla was hurt while fielding. This cast serious doubts over whether he will be able to open the innings for the visitors.
When play resumed, Jehan Mubarrak then walked out to join Chandimal but could not last too long. He was sent back by JP Duminy in the 41st over.
Chandimal and Thisara Perera tried to accelerate in the final overs and added 25 runs from 23 deliveries but a miscued shot from the latter went straight to the substitute fielder Colin Ingram at mid-off in the 45th over.
A couple of overs later, a Jonty Rhodes-like effort from Faf du Plessis brought an end to Chandimal’s gritty knock of 43 that helped Sri Lanka regain a bit of momentum. His knock included four boundaries.
Rain returned in the final over of the Sri Lankan innings and forced them to end at 223 for nine in 49.2 overs.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 223 for 9 in 49.2 overs (Tillakaratne Dilshan 43, Dinesh Chandimal 43; Morne Morkel 3 for 35) vs South Africa
