ZCZC
BSP-14
CRICKET-SRI-SA-ODI-PREVIEW
Sri Lanka aim to fight back in 2nd ODI
DHAKA, July 31, 2018 (BSS)- After being humbled in the first ODI, Sri
Lanka will be aiming to level terms in the day-nighter in the second ODI
scheduled to be held tomorrow (Wednesday) Rangiri Dambulla International
Stadium, Dambulla.
The match kicks off at 3 pm (BST).
The change of formats brought with it good tidings for South Africa as
they brushed their Test disappointments aside and won the first ODI quite
comprehensively, by five wickets. Kagiso Rabada (4/41) and Tabraiz Shamsi
(4/33) set it up for them as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 193, and JP
Duminy’s whirlwind half-century (53 n.o in 32 balls) sealed the match for the
visitors in just 31 overs.
Sri Lanka, who were 36/5 at one stage, were helped by Kusal Perera and
Thisara Perera as they added 92 runs for the sixth wicket to revive the
innings and helped give their bowlers something to defend. However, it was
far from enough as Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis added 86 runs for the
third wicket to make light work of the chase.
Kusal’s innings of 81 off 71 balls was the highlight of the Sri Lankan
innings and Thisara’s 49 off 30 also helped them up the scoring rate, and a
lot will depend on these two should Sri Lanka find themselves in a spot of
bother again. For the best results, however, Sri Lanka’s top-order needs to
come good and they need to arrest a collapse if they bat first.
Niroshan Dickwella, Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis and captain Angelo Mathews
form a formidable line-up and they must click as a unit. Among the bowlers,
barring Akila Dananjaya, who picked up 3/50 in his 10, the others looked
ineffective and the hosts will have to give their ace white-ball spinner some
support.
For South Africa, barring the brief period when the Pereras were going
well, everything else went well. But they did look under pressure when the
Sri Lankan batsmen went on the offensive.
Except for Hashim Amla and Aiden Markram’s failures at the top, the South
African batsmen looked fairly confident against spin – they took Lakshan
Sandakan for 74 runs off his eight overs and will look to carry the momentum
into the second match.
Their bowlers need to stick to their plans when put under the pump. As
good as Rabada and Lungi Ngidi were with the new ball, Andile Phehlukwayo and
Willem Mulder looked ineffective as the first-change and second-change
options, giving away 64 runs in the six overs they bowled. Sri Lanka may look
to exploit this weakness.
Probable squads:
Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (captain), Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Perera,
Dhananjaya de Silva, Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis, Thisara Perera, Niroshan
Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Akila Dananjaya,
Prabath Jayasuriya, Lakshan Sandakan and Shehan Jayasuriya.
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Junior Dala, Quinton
de Kock, Jean-Paul Duminy, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj,
Aiden Markram, David Miller, Willem Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo,
Kagiso Rabada and Tabraiz Shamsi.
BSS/SG/ARS/1711 hrs