1st T20 International at R. Premadasa Stadium Sri Lanka’s batting woes continue as South Africa go one-up

Saturday, 11 September 2021 00:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Man of the Match Aiden Markram plays the reverse sweep

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka’s batting woes in T20I cricket continued as they could manage only 135-6 chasing South Africa’s total of 163-5 to lose the first match of a 3-match series by 28 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Only one batsman stood out in Sri Lanka’s run chase – former captain Dinesh Chandimal who hit a career best 66 off 54 balls (2 sixes, 5 fours) batting out the entire 20 overs.

None of the Lankan batsmen were able to assist Chandimal in a partnership that would have given some momentum to the batting as the South African spinners took complete control to strangle them.

Most impressive of the bowlers was Keshav Maharaj who on his T20I debut and also as captain led the team from the front with figures of 1 for 19 off 4 overs.

Bjorn Fortuin (1/24) and Tabraiz Shamsi (1/20), the no. 1 ranked T20I bowler, ensured with their tight lines and lengths that Sri Lanka were always behind the required run rate despite a valiant attempt to wrest the initiative back by Chandimal who used his feet well to the spinners to hit two sixes.

Maharaj in fact joined a select band of bowlers who had taken a wicket off the first ball bowled in T20I cricket when he trapped the hapless Bhanuka Rajapaksa in front of the wicket for a golden duck. It was the third consecutive duck for Rajapaksa against the South Africans having collected two in the first two ODIs.

With South Africa picking up wickets frequently, Sri Lanka were never at any stage in a dominating position to wrest the game away from them.

Quinton de Kock back in the side and Reeza Hendricks provided South Africa with a sound start putting together a partnership of 73 in 10 overs. De Kock made 36 and Hendricks 38. Aidan Markram continued the start given by scoring a stroke-filled 48 off 33 balls to take the Man of the Match award. Improvising well he hit two sixes and one four and with David Miller (26 off 15 balls) raised another productive stand of 65 off 35 balls that saw South Africa reach a challenging total.

Pick of the Lankan bowlers was leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, ranked no. 2 behind Shamsi, finishing with figures of 2 for 23. The second T20I takes place at the same venue on Sunday.

Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks gave South Africa a productive start posting 73

Dinesh Chandimal played a lone hand for 66 not out