Sri Lanka’s tour of South Africa concludes at The Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday with the third T20 international and the Proteas are aiming for a clean sweep.
The first match of the series was staged at Newlands on Tuesday and it produced a thrilling conclusion with the scores tied and the Proteas coming out on top in a Super Over.
The second match took place Supersport Park, Centurion on Friday and the Proteas clinched the series with a 16 run victory.
The Proteas lost the toss and were invited to bat first at Centurion on Friday. Although they lost Aiden Markram early on Reeza Hendricks (65) and Rassie van der Dussen (64) were the backbone of a bat first total of 180/3. The innings included 5 maximums and the Proteas were in control of the game.
Dale Steyn struck twice in the first over and Sri Lanka were 4 down by the end of the fourth as the game looked to be heading for an early finish. The resistance, and it was considerable, came from Isuru Udana who Sri Lanka deployed at number 8 bat. Udana smashed 84 runs but the visitors needed 32 off the final over and even for Udana, who obliged as our 20/1 tip in the Player to hit the most 6’s market, that was a bridge to far. The victory margin came in at 16 runs, far less than what had looked likely for the bulk of the Sri Lankan innings.
This was how the teams lined up at Centurion on Friday.
South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Jean-Paul Duminy(c), Sinethemba Qeshile(w), Chris Morris, Dwaine Pretorius, Dale Steyn, Lutho Sipamla, Tabraiz Shamsi
Sri Lanka: Niroshan Dickwella(w), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Angelo Perera, Thisara Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Isuru Udana, Akila Dananjaya, Lasith Malinga(c), Jeffrey Vandersay
The Venue, The Wanderers, Johannesburg
The Proteas have won 12 and lost 7 of their 19 T20 internationals at The Wanderers but that record would have looked more impressive had they not lost 4 of their last 6 at this ground.
The most recent T20 at this venue saw South Africa post 188/3 in February this year (Miller 65 not out) and despite being 147/1 with 4 overs to go, Pakistan came up 7 runs short in the chase
Head to Head
Overall the teams have met 12 times with South Africa winning 7 (inc 1 Super Over) and Sri Lanka winning 5.
On South African soil the Proteas have won 3 and Sri Lanka 2.
Verdict:
The drinks are on Isuru Udana who must surely be shunted up the bating order but se switch focus to Reeza Hendricks as top SA bat after his return to form on Friday.
Suggested Bets: Top Home Bat Reeza Hendricks.
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