After the first two ODIs at Dambulla both Sri Lanka and South Africa faced-off each other in the third match at Pallekele. Despite the change in venue, one thing remained unchanged for the hosts and that is, their luck.

On Sunday, Sri Lanka registered their third successive lose as the Proteas have sealed the five-match ODI series with two games in hand.

The islanders’ miseries started off with the toss, where Angelo Mathews won and decided to bowl on a batting-friendly wicket. An opening partnership of 42 runs, where Quinton de Kock contributed only 2 runs, didn’t really show what was coming for the hosting side.

Amla struck a run-a-ball 59 before bowled out by Thisara Perera. He also removed Faf du Plessis for 10, before Reeza Hendricks and JP Duminy bolstered the innings by stitching a 78-run stand.

Duminy came out of his shell, after debutant Hendricks departed recording his maiden ODI ton. The left-hander shared another partnership of 103 runs with David Miller. Perera dismissed both the batsmen and completed his four-fer but it was too late as they had already taken past 300 runs. Duminy made 92 off 70 and Miller posted 51 from 47 deliveries, and Andile Phehlukwayo provided the finishing touch with an 11-ball unbeaten cameo of 24 runs.

The last seven overs of South Africa’s innings saw 98 runs being added to the total, which finally ended up at 363 for seven.

In reply, the Lankan’s shaky batting line-up were all-out for 285 runs. Phehlukwayo and Lungi Ngidi scythe through their batting line-up and accounted for a total of seven wickets. Ngidi decked the top-order before wrapping up the contest with the final scalp, while Phehlukwayo completed his triple strike. Tabraiz Shamsi also bagged two wickets and Wilem Mulder got one.

South Africa will now look to make it a clean sweep while Sri Lanka will try to mount a comeback in the two dead rubber clashes, scheduled to be held on 8 and 12 August.

 

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