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Keshav Maharaj was the pick of the bowlers in his first match as standby captain. The Proteas will be keen on winning the next game and wrapping up the T20I series.
It was a good toss to win for Keshav Maharaj as the top-order batsmen of SA batted with great guile and solidity. Quinton de Kock (36 off 32) and Reeza Hendricks (38 off 30) added 73 runs for the first wicket. Wanindu Hasaranga, who dismissed the openers in consecutive overs, ended the match with figures 2-23 in his four-over quota.
Aiden Markram’s 48-run knock came at a reasonable speed. He was unfortunate not to reach his half-century as Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka picked up his wicket in the 19th over. David Miller’s cameo at the end took the Proteas to a total of 163.
Runs on the board were always going to be gold at the R Premadasa Stadium. A few of the Sri Lankan batsmen played way too cautiously and perished in one way or another.
Dinesh Chandimal was arguably the only batsman who showed any composure in building his innings. He remained unbeaten on 66 runs but never really got into a long partnership.
25-year-old all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne scored a quickfire 22, but the game was well over by then. South Africa’s bowlers did a phenomenal job as five of the six of them up a wicket each, and most were economical as well. Keshav Maharaj (1 for 19) was the cream of the crop.
After losing the ODI series 2-1, South Africa will be eager to avenge themselves and earn a much-needed T20I series triumph ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
Brief Scores
South Africa: 163/5 in 20 overs (Markram 48, Hendricks 38; Hasaranga 2/23, Shanaka 1/6) defeated
Sri Lanka: 135/6 in 20 overs (Chandimal 66*, Karunaratne 22*; Maharaj 1/19, Shamsi 1/20)
Man of the Match
Aiden Markram
