COLOMB0, Sri Lanka-- Skipper Dasun Shanaka hailed Maheesh Theekshana
as a top prospect after the debutant spinner helped Sri Lanka thrash South
Africa by 78 runs to clinch the one-day series 2-1 on Tuesday.
اضافة اعلان
Theekshana, an off-spinner with a lethal carrom ball,
returned figures of 4-37 as the hosts bowled out South Africa for 125 in 30
overs while chasing a target of 204 in the third ODI in Colombo.
The 21-year-old Theekshana made an instant impact with a
wicket on his first delivery in international
cricket as he sent opener
Janneman Malan trudging back for 18.
Rain then briefly stopped play.
He then cut short wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen's
innings on 22 to further dent the Proteas' chase.
"Theekshana was our trump card," Shanaka said
after the win. "He's more of a T20 bowler but I used him wisely in this
match. He's a real prospect going forward."
Andile Phehlukwayo, who made 17, and George Linde, who
scored 18, put up some resistance with a partnership of 36 for the seventh
wicket.
Theekshana combined with leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who
took two wickets to polish off the tail with 20 overs remaining in the innings.
Pace bowler Dushmantha Chameera took two early wickets
including Reeza Hendricks, for one, and Rassie van der Dussen, for five, to
rattle the South African top-order.
He also made a useful 29 in Sri Lanka's 203 for nine to be
named man of the match.
Sri Lanka's Charith Asalanka top-scored with 47 while
Keshav Maharaj claimed three wickets.
Maharaj struck first, getting Avishka Fernando lbw for 10,
and returned figures of 3-38 with his left-arm spin. Fellow spinners Linde and
Tabraiz Shamsi took two wickets each.
South Africa successfully reviewed the openers' wickets in
their favour after Fernando and Dinesh Chandimal, out lbw for nine off left-arm
orthodox Linde, were given not out by the on-field umpires.
Spinners kept striking as Aiden Markram sent back
Dhananjaya de Silva for 31 and Maharaj got two, including Shanaka and
Hasaranga, as Sri Lanka slipped to 121-6.
Asalanka survived a reprieve on 36 when he was caught at
mid-wicket off Linde, but the delivery was adjudged a no ball with more
fielders outside the inner circle than allowed.
Shamsi, a left-arm wrist spinner, finally got Asalanka
caught behind to deny the left-hand batsman a half-century.
"Today our plans weren't up to scratch, but lots of positives
to take," said Maharaj, who took over as ODI captain from the injured
Temba Bavuma from the second match.
"We've got a few of our senior players back for the
T20Is so hopefully that'll give us the boost we need."
The two sides will now play three Twenty20 internationals
starting Friday at the same venue.
Read more Cricket news on sports
.jpg)
.jpg)
