SA beat SL by 113 runs

CENTURION: South Africa lost 6 for 31 this afternoon, but the hosts’ bowling attack then reversed the treatment to dismantle Sri Lanka’s chase under lights here on Wednesday night.

Kagiso Rabada led the attack with 3 for 43 and Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje and Imran Tahir all struck twice as the visitors collapsed from 92 for 3 to 138 all out in pursuit of 252.

On a pitch that encouraged both seam and spin, South Africa had also been bowled out short of their full complement of overs, and were thankful for Quinton de Kock’s 94 and Faf du Plessis’ 57 as Sri Lanka’s bowlers, lead by Thisara Perera’s 3 for 26 in his 150th ODI, also shared the wickets around.

Had Niroshan Dickwella and Avishka Fernando been able to set aside quick runs and simply survive Rabada and Ngidi’s opening bursts, the job would only have become easier for Sri Lanka on a pitch that remained generally good for batting - cracks aside - throughout. But the visiting openers instead sought to go after the new ball, without much success.

Dickwella backed away into a wild, top-edged pull that was safely pouched by de Kock in the third over - Rabada’s 100th ODI wicket - and Avishka swiped a four and a top-edged six before he was bowled swinging across the line at Ngidi not long after.

Scores: South Africa 251 (de Kock 94, du Plessis 57, Thisara 3-26) beat Sri Lanka 138 (Oshada 31, Rabada 3-43, Ngidi 2-14) by 113 runs.