What a difference two overs can make. That was all it took for South
Africa to stay alive in the series, have their confidence restored and
beat Sri Lanka at home for the first time in close to 20 years.
The 49th and 50th over of their nnings produced 38 runs and took their
total from middling to challenging. David Miller scored 35 of them
himself - prior to this match no South African batsman had managed a
score greater than 29 in the series - hitting Thisara Perera and Lasith
Malinga straight down the ground. He proved South Africa could be
competitive and could come back after being under pressure in the first
two matches, and even large sections of the third.
And what a difference an over can almost make. Perera hit Robin Peterson for the second-most expensive
over in ODI cricket to throw Sri Lanka back into contention after they
slumped to 93 for 7. The 35 runs included five sixes and a four, Perera
displaying his prowess, especially over the leg-side.
Like Miller, he showed the temperament required to succeed in conditions
where the surfaces are sluggish - survive first, thrive later. Unlike
the South African, Perera was asked to do too much at the end.
Because Miller did not have a target to chase, he had less pressure on
him. His strike rate hovered between 70 and 80 for most of his stay at
the crease as he settled in. He needed AB de Villiers to usher him
through the period where even singles were hard to come by and soon
realised patience would pay off.
Only at the very end, when Perera and Malinga seemed to have dinner
rather than death bowling on their minds, did Miller pounce on anything
too full and one which was too short. Miller registered the first South
African half-century on the tour after their top order failed - Hashim
Amla's absence is growing glaring as each match goes by.
South Africa tried a third opening pair in as many matches with Lions'
team-mates Alviro Petersen and Quinton de Kock fronting up first. Both
were watchful but de Kock was unable to contain his attacking instincts
and was vulnerable outside the offstump.
He offered a chance in the fourth over when he swung at a wide one
without any foot movement but Tillakaratne Dilshan at slip could not
hold on. Sri Lanka hit back two balls later when Malinga bowled his
first short ball and Petersen tried to hook too early, only to glove it
to Kumar Sangakkara.
Sri Lanka's attack continued to find the edge of de Kock's bat and the
youngster fell on his sword to open South Africa's middle up to a
familiar state of panic. Both JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis posted
insubstantial scores, with Duminy looking good again but unable to kick
on and du Plessis uneasy at the crease and almost run out twice before
actually being found short of his ground.
De Villiers looked closer to breaking the lean run but Sri Lanka's
spinners and Ajanthan Mendis in particular did not let him get away.
Mendis was difficult to pick while Rangana Herath and Dilshan kept
things tight. It was only when Miller decided to hit out that the
complexion of South Africa's tour became a little rosier.
Things got better for them from there as the fit-again Lonwabo Tsotsobe
did the bulk of the damage upfront. He plucked three wickets in a
six-over spell in which he extracted bounce, produced seam movement and
partnered Morne Morkel to perfection.
Morkel created pressure at his end with pace and steep lift, while
Tsotsobe's accuracy ensured eight dot balls were produced before the
first run was scored. Sri Lanka's were troubled by anything back of a
length and Dilshan was the first to succumb. He spooned a catch to de
Villiers at cover before Kumar Sangakkara went in the same over, chasing
one that moved away.
Upul Tharanga was also undone by bounce and edged Tsotsobe to Petersen
at slip. With Sri Lanka at 16 for 3, South Africa were in control for
the first time in the series.
They held the match in their grip even as Mahela Jayawardene and Dinesh
Chandimal combined for a 55-run stand. Robin Peterson reviewed an lbw
shout against Jayawardene, which was going down leg and Jayawardene
survived a stumping chance when Peterson was bowling but the left-arm
spinner had the last laugh. Peterson bowled Jayawardene with one that
skidded on, but that was the end of his involvement in the night.
Peterson's figures were ruined by Perera, who hit his first four sixes
over the mid-wicket boundary. Then, he sent Peterson back over his head
for four and he finished with the biggest hit of the night, over square
leg.
That over brought Sri Lanka's required run-rate below six but, it would
take more than one over to change the course of the match. Perera had a
few more meaty hits, but he didn't have a second over to match his first
and when he was dismissed, Sri Lanka's hopes went with him.
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