SA pin World Cup hopes on bowlers

CAPE TOWN: South Africa finished their one-day series against Sri Lanka with a clear idea of both the team and the tactics they will use in the upcoming Cricket World Cup.Sri Lanka, after their fourth 5-0 series defeat in less than two years, appeared to be in disarray.

Aiden Markram hit an unbeaten 67 to put South Africa in a dominant position before floodlight failure ended the final ODI. South Africa won by 41 runs according to the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method when no further play was possible. The hosts were on 135 for two after 28 overs in reply to Sri Lanka’s 225 all out.

South African captain Faf du Plessis said after the fifth match on Saturday night that he was "98 to 99 percent" sure who would go to England.He said the "one or two percent" was to allow for "guys who are really red hot or striking good form".

Du Plessis indicated that South Africa were pinning their hopes on a potent bowling line-up to win matches, even if meant that the team might have a lengthy tail. South Africa’s fast bowlers, backed by leg-spinner Imran Tahir, dominated the Sri Lankan batsmen, who were unable to bat out a full 50 overs in any of the matches.

Du Plessis cited the example of Pakistan, who won the 2017 Champions Trophy in England. "I’ve been in teams that have had a very long batting line-up and it didn’t prove successful," said Du Plessis.

"You can learn from your mistakes and you can look at other teams where they have got it right.”“Pakistan had a very average batting line-up but it didn’t matter to them because they kept bowling teams out."

Sri Lanka won toss

Sri Lanka

A Fernando c Du Plessis b Ngidi 9

U Tharanga c De Kock b Rabada 2

O Fernando c Du Plessis b Tahir 22

†K Mendis run out 56

P Perera c & b Rabada 33

A Perera c Du Plessis b Tahir 31

T Perera c Tahir b Nortje 2

D de Silva c Duminy b Phehlukwayo 12

I Udana c Tahir b Rabada 32

A Dananjaya c Duminy b Nortje 3

*L Malinga not out 0

Extras (lb 8, nb 3, w 11) 22

Total (all out; 49.3 overs) 225

Fall: 1-14, 2-14, 3-63, 4-125, 5-126, 6-141, 7-161, 8-222, 9-222, 10-225

Bowling: Rabada 10-1-50-3 (3 nb, 2 w); Ngidi 5-1-16-1; Phehlukwayo 8-0-40-1 (5 w); Nortje 9.3-0-35-2 (2 w); Tahir 10-1-33-2 (1 w); Pretorius 4-0-27-0; Duminy 3-0-16-0 (1 w)

South Africa

†Q de Kock c A Fernando b Malinga 6

A Markram not out 67

F du Plessis c Mendis b T Perera 24

H van der Dussen not out 28

Extras (lb 4, w 2) 6

Total (2 wickets; 28 overs) 135

Fall: 1-8, 2-78

Bowling: Malinga 6-0-22-1 (1 w); De Silva 1-0-3-0; Udana 7-1-37-0 (1 w); Dananjaya 7-0-38-0; T Perera 5-0-20-1; A Perera 2-0-11-0

Did not bat: J Duminy, D Pretorius, A Phehlukwayo, K Rabada, A Nortje, L Ngidi, Imran Tahir

Result: South Africa won by 41 runs (D/L method)

Man of the Match: Aiden Markram (SA)

Series: South Africa won five-match series 5-0

Man of the Series: Quinton de Kock (SA)

Umpires: Shaun George (South Africa) and Richard Kettleborough (England). TV umpire: Aleem Dar (Pakistan). Match referee: Richie Richardson (West Indies)