Rabada, Shamsi set up South Africa’s big win

DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka: Bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Tabraiz Shamsi starred on Sunday in South Africa’s five-wicket hammering of Sri Lanka in the first One-day International, some consolation for a disappointing tour.

They claimed four wickets each to help bowl out Sri Lanka for 193, a total the visitors passed in just 31 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

South Africa’s chase depended on an 86-run third-wicket stand between Quinton de Kock and skipper Faf du Plessis, who both hit 47.Off spinner Akila Dananjaya struck at crucial moments to get three wickets but Jean-Paul Duminy ensured a swift chase with his 32-ball unbeaten 53.

But it was a superb opening pace spell from Rabada and Shamsi’s career-best figures of 4-33 with his left-arm wrist spin that led South Africa to their first victory of the tour after being swept aside in a two-Test series.

Sri Lanka’s innings lasted just 34.3 overs but batsman Kusal Perera hit a gritty 81 to lift the hosts from a precarious 36-5 following their decision to bat first.Kusal, whose 72-ball stay included 11 fours and a six, put on a crucial 92 for the sixth wicket stand with Thisara Perera, who made 49 to give the total a modicum of respect.

Kusal and Thisara counter-attacked to hit the South African bowlers to all parts of the ground as Sri Lanka reached 100 in the 16th over.The left-handed batting duo cashed in on the inexperience of rookie pacemen Willem Mulder and Andile Phehlukwayo as they plundered runs.

But the introduction of spin in the 18th over put Sri Lanka in trouble again. Shamsi broke the dangerous partnership by getting Thisara caught behind.Kusal kept up the good work to reach his fourth ODI fifty and got support from Dananjaya in a 38-run partnership.

He finally fell to Shamsi, who won the man of the match award, after being caught at point while attempting a reverse sweep. The innings folded soon afterwards.South Africa suffered a wobbly start to their chase after opener Hashim Amla and Aiden Markram fell to the guile of Dananjaya, who opened the attack for the hosts.

The left-right batting combination of de Kock and du Plessis blunted Sri Lanka’s spin threat with their measured approach.However de Kock and du Plessis were denied their fifties after Dananjaya and left-arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan got the batsmen out respectively.Duminy kept calm to complete his 26th one-day half-century and hit the winning runs.

Sri Lanka won toss

Sri Lanka

†N Dickwella c Shamsi b Rabada 2

U Tharanga run out 10

K Mendis c de Kock b Rabada 3

K Perera c Miller b Shamsi 81

*A Mathews c Amla b Ngidi 5

S Jayasuriya c de Kock b Rabada 0

T Perera c de Kock b Shamsi 49

A Dananjaya b Shamsi 11

S Lakmal c de Kock b Rabada 5

L Sandakan not out 5

L Kumara st de Kock b Shamsi 3

Extras (lb4, nb2, w13) 19

Total (all out, 34.3 overs) 193

Fall: 1-2, 2-11, 3-22, 4-35, 5-36, 6-128, 7-166, 8-179, 9-189, 10-193

Bowling: Rabada 8-0-41-4, Ngidi 8-1-29-1, Mulder 3-0-34-0, Phehlukwayo 3-0-30-0, Shamsi 8.3-0-33-4, JP Duminy 4-0-22-0

South Africa

H Amla b Dananjaya 19

†Q de Kock c Lakmal b Dananjaya 47

A Markram lbw b Dananjaya 0

*F du Plessis c Mathews b Sandakan 47

J P Duminy not out 53

D Miller lbw b Lakmal 10

W Mulder not out 14

Extras (lb1, w5) 6

Total (5 wickets, 31 overs) 196

Did not bat: A Phehlukwayo, K Rabada, T Shamsi, L Ngidi

Fall: 1-31, 2-31, 3-117, 4-129, 5-172

Bowling: Dananjaya 10-0-50-3, Lakmal 6-0-37-1, Jayasuriya 4-0-23-0, Kumara 3-0-11-0, Sandakan 8-0-74-1

Result: South Africa won by 5 wickets

Man of the Match: Tabraiz Shamsi (SA)

Series: South Africa lead the 5-match series 1-0

Umpires: Nigel Llong (England), Ruchira Palliyaguruge (Sri Lanka). TV umpire: Paul Reiffel (Australia). Match referee: Javagal Srinath (India)