2nd ODI: Thisara Perera’s three wickets restrict South Africa to 251
Centurion: Sri Lanka turned the game around, courtesy Thisara Perera’s three wickets that helped the tourists bundle out South Africa for 251 in the second one-day international at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday. (LIVE SCORECARD: South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI)
Asked to bat, South Africa, who lead the five-match series 1-0, were off to a flier with Quinton de Kock’s belligerent 94 off 70 which was studded with a whopping 17 boundaries and a solitary six. QDK had himself to blame after a poor shot selection denied him a century.
South Africa were 131/1 when De Kock fell to Perera in the 21st over. Captain Faf du Plessis then shouldered the responsibility to take his side to respectable total adding 57 to the tally before Perera returned to send du Plessis back to the pavilion. (ALSO READ: Sri Lanka aim big at 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup)
After Du Plessis’s dismissal, South Africa collapsed dramatically. From 220/4, they were bundled out for 251 in 45.1 overs with Perera being the catalyst for Sri Lanka with the crucial wickets of De Kock and Du Plessis. (ALSO READ: Sri Lanka opt to bowl, Upul Tharanga left out)
Perera returned with impressive figures of three for 26 in his seven overs. Sri Lanka have a chance to level the series on a pitch that’s a bit on the slower side.
Brief scores: South Africa 251 all out in 45.1 overs (Quinton de Kock 94, Faf du Plessis 57; Thisara Perera 3/26) versus Sri Lanka