Angelo Mathews made a statement of intent hauling two sixes in the final over to seal a dramatic win in the second T20. Earlier in the day Debutant Lakshan Sandakan along with Isuru Udana managed 7 scalps as visitors Sri Lanka surprise hosts with exceptional bowling.
South Africa won the toss and batted first on a “more subcontinental-like surface” as the hosts looked to seal the series with one game in hand.
Photos: Sri Lanka v South Africa | 2nd T20I
Photos of the Sri Lanka v South Africa | 2nd T20I
The hosts went in unchanged to the tie while Sri Lanka made two changes handing Lakshan Sandakan his debut and left-arm quick Isuru Udana came in for the injured Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal, who was given a day off.
Nuwan Kulasekara struck in over number two as he removed JJ Smuts for 4 runs to give the visitors a good start. The start continued through to the 10th over as South Africa was reduced to 68 for the loss of 5 wickets. Sri Lanka continually pegged back the hosts with regular breakthroughs, restricting South Africa to 113 in 19.3 overs as debutant Sandakan managed 4-for while Isuru Udana bagged 3 on his comeback.
Sri Lanka came into bat, favorites to chase down the modest 113 but teething issues in the first six overs kept the hosts in the game. Niroshan Dickwella was the only batsman in the first three to get into double figures with a quick fire 22 in 15 balls with 5 fours.
Dhananjaya De Silva and Kusal Mendis came and went for 2 and 4 respectively as Lungi Ngidi picked the first three wickets. The experienced Angelo Mathews joined Dinesh Chandimal to steady the Lankan ship with a 51 run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Chandimal threw his wicket for 22 with a loose shot, slashing outside the off stump as Lungi Ngidi picked his fourth of the innings. Asela Gunaratne followed suit as Imran Tahir kept the game in the balance.
Seekuge Prasanna and new boy Thikshila De Silva folded under pressure with scores of 2 and 3 respectively to open up the game yet again. With skipper Angelo Mathews sustaining a hamstring pull while going through for a quick single,the game went into the final over with the visitors requiring 7 off 6 balls to secure a first win in the Rainbow nation and debilitated skipper facing.
The Lankan captain held his nerve and struck JJ Smuts for two sixes in the 2nd and 4th ball of the final over to seal a dramatic win in a low scoring encounter at Johannesburg.
The final game at Cape Town on Wednesday (January 25) will be the decider with the series at 1-1. AB de Villiers, who has made a century today in a CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge game and is expected to return on Wednesday and it will undoubtedly be a terrific occasion.
