||Desk Report||

Bowlers rescued South Africa and handed a 113-run win over Sri Lanka in the second ODI held in Centurion on Wednesday. With this win, the hosts took a 2-0 lead in the 5-match series.

Earlier, South Africa were dismissed for a total of 251 in 45.1 overs. Only Quinton de Kock knocked the highest score 94 off 70 balls. In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 138 runs. Kagiso Rabada took 3 for 43 while Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir and newcomer Anrich Nortje picked up 2 wickets each.

However, after being put in to bat, Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks gave the solid start to the hosts, added 91-run in the opening-stand. After Hendricks’ departure for 29, Captain Faf du Plessis along with Quinton de Kock added more 40-run in the second-wicket-stand. Quinton de Kock hammered 94 off just 70 balls with 17 fours and 1 six before being removed by Thisara Perera. Then, the Lankan allrounder struck again and sent back Rassie van der Dussen for 2, followed by Wiaan Mulder for 17. Proteas captain was still on the crease and made a 44-run-pair with David Miller, before being bowled out by Perera for 57 off 66 deliveries in the 37th over.

After then, South Africa’s batting line up collapsed and they lost 5 wickets for 31 runs. David Miller added 25 while Andile Phehlukwayo scored 2, Kagiso Rabada 3, Anrich Nortje 8, Lungi Ngidi 6 and Imran Tahir remained not out for 1. Thisara Perera claimed 3 wickets while Dhananjaya de Silva and captain Lasith Malinga picked up 2 wickets each. The hosts went from 220-4 to 251 all out.

In chasing of a mediocre total of 252, Sri Lanka lost their top 5 wickets for 92 runs. And the rest of the five wickets removed for 46 runs only. The visitors got an early blow when Niroshan Dickwella (6) gone for a total of 11 runs, followed by Avishka Fernando (10) and Kusal Perera (8). However, Oshada Fernando and Kusal Mendis tried to resist with their 40-run partnership in the fourth-wicket-stand before Mendis removed by an unfortunate run out for 24. Fernando, who scored the highest for Sri Lanka 31, got an LBW and was removed by Anrich Nortje. Among the last five batsmen, Thisara Perera added 23 and Dhananjaya de Silva scored 15 runs. Akila Dananjaya dismissed for 4, Akila Dananjaya for 0, Lasith Malinga for 1. Vishwa Fernando remained not out for 2.  The third ODI will be played in Durban on March 10.

Brief Score

South Africa: 251

Quinton 94, Faf 57; Perera 3-26

Sri Lanka: 138