SL look to snap losing streak

Friday, 22 March 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Niroshan Dickwella

By Madushka Balasuriya

Sri Lanka take on South Africa later today looking for a first limited overs win since October last year, though their minds will likely still be lingering on Tuesday’s missed opportunity to end that dismal run.

While his form with the bat has been shoddy over the recent past, Niroshan Dickwella was just centimetres away from completing the defining act of the first T20I, only to see his last-gasp throw from mere metres away miss the stumps, giving the South African batsman the chance to rush through to secure an unlikely last-ball tie.

To compound matters Imran Tahir – the leg-spinner whose scrambled single attempt had set in motion Dickwella’s moment of misery – played a starring role in restricting Sri Lanka in the Super Over which followed to settle the tie.

If you’re an optimist, the fact that the tie was the first time Sri Lanka had managed to avert defeat in a limited overs match since October 2018 might be a straw to clutch. But indeed, that will be of little consolation for a Sri Lankan team that can’t seem to buy a win at the moment.

Going into tonight’s game, among the positives is the fact that Sri Lanka don’t have any new injury concerns, while the form of Kamindu Mendis with the bat and Lasith Malinga’s age-defying effectiveness with the ball will serve as some sort of foundation to build on.

Dickwella’s missed throw aside, Sri Lanka have also been much more impressive in the field over recent times, and with Steve Rixon at the helm, it is likely that will be the case going forward.

For South Africa, the effectiveness of their middle order will have been heartening after both Quinton De Kock and Reza Hendricks had fallen cheaply, though their hopes will once again rest on Tahir, who Sri Lanka seem unable to get away from regardless of format.

The match gets underway at 9:30 pm Sri Lankan time.