An astonishing 86 runs with the bat and 3 wickets with the ball by TM Dilshan ensured Sri Lanka level the 3-match ODI series beating the visiting, South Africans by 87 runs in the 2nd ODI at Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
TM Dilshan continued his king-like ruling over Pallekelle ground with another extraordinary all-round performance at the picturesque ground up on the hills while Hashim Amla scored another fine century in a losing cause. Man of the Match, Dilshan bowled his full quota of 10 overs, conceding only 40 runs with 3 wickets to his name. In 11 ODIs at Pallekele, Dilshan has scored 768 runs at an average of 96.00 and 9 wickets at an average of 16.66 per wicket.
Angelo Matthews won the toss and had no hesitancy in batting first on a must-win situation for the islanders after losing out to the Proteas on Sunday. Both teams were unchanged to this important clash. Kusal Perera and TM Dilshan gave the hosts a blistering yet shortened opening in the first 20 balls before Kusal Perera lobbed a simple catch to Hashim Amla off Vernon Philander. From the other end, TM Dilshan kept on piling up the runs in a sophisticated fashion with exquisite batting. The legendary Kumar Sangakkara made only 7 runs before Morne Morkel’s steaming bouncer got the better of the left hander when the Lankan score was only 63.
Sri Lanka reshuffled their batting order as vice-captain Lahiru Thirimanne was promoted up the order at number 4. Thirimanne and Dilshan steadily grew the Lankan score to a convining position as they put on 62 runs for the 3rd wicket. Lahiru Thirimanne’s struggle to score big runs continued as he was caught in the deep off an Imran Tahir’s half pitched delivery for 36. Dilshan kept on accumulating runs with his crafty drives and pulls to torment the South African bowling attack which lacked the usual vigorousness after Dale Steyn injured his right hand in an attempt to hold on to a caught and bowl chance in the 5th over of the match.
Seasoned campaigners, Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardena added 29 runs in 51 deliveries for the 4th wicket before the former missed out on another century in one of his favourite hunting grounds, Pallekelle. TM Dilshan’s sensational stay in the crease ended in the 31st over as he was unfortunately bowled around his legs off part-time spinner JP Duminy for a well stroked 86 runs in 90 balls. Skipper Angelo Mathews joined his senior partner Mahela Jayawardene when the Lankans needed an inspirational partnership to lift their chance of posting a defendable score.
Skipper Angelo Mathews and Mahela Jayawardene scored only 33 runs from the batting power play though Sri Lanka got over the 200 run mark in the 40th over with the boys in blue & yellow were well placed to change gears in the final 10 overs. Mahela showed signs of getting back to form by playing his favorite sweeps and reverse-sweeps but his quest of scoring a half-century was ended just short of two runs by an Imran Tahir googly as the former Sri Lankan captain was bowled for 48 in the 43rd over of the Lankan innings, winding-up a rousing 71 run stand for the 5th wicket.
Ashan Priyanjan justified his place in the side with a timely contribution of 25 runs in no time but right arm medium fast-bowler Ryan McLaren jolted the Lankan charge as he picked up 3 wickets in an excellent 47th over removing Angelo Mathews (34), Nuwan Kulasekara (0) and Ashan Priyanjan (25) as South Africa got back into the game restricting Sri Lanka to 257 for the loss of 8 wickets before rain interrupted play for 10 minutes. The Lankan tail could not do much damage as Sri Lanka posted a competitive 267 runs on the board in 49.2 overs.
Chasing 268 runs to victory, the South African opening batsman Quinton De Kock was castled by Lasith Malinga as soon as the 3rd over. Malinga’s in-swinging delivery was too much to the 20-year old wicket keeper batsman. The slinger struck another major blow in the 5th over of the Proteas chase when he got the prized wicket of Jacques Kallis caught behind by Kumar Sangakkara restricting South Africa to 26/2.
Hashim Amla and AB De Villiers once again displayed another world class partnership as they maneuvered the Lankan bowling with ease until the golden arm of TM Dilshan dismissed AB De Villers for 29 runs, ending a threatening 75 runs partnership in the 20th over. Number 5 batsman, JP Duminy’s innings was short-lived as Kumar Sangakkara took a sharp catch behind the stumps off Ajantha Mendis.
Lankan spinners once again did their choking job perfectly as Dilshan scalped his 2nd wicket in consecutive overs, dismissing dangerous David Miller for only 4 runs with the help of a brilliant low catch by Sachithra Senanayake as the visitors went into a deep hole at 109 for the loss of 5 wickets. Angelo Mathews brought on Sachithra Senanayake for his 2nd spell of the match and he rewarded his captain’s call by sending back Ryan McLaren for only 3 runs as the big South African succumbed to the pressure.
Long-bearded Hashim Amla kept on batting with proper application and sublime touch though he kept running out of partners. TM Dilshan punched another hole in the South African batting order dismissing Vernon Philander in the 28th over as Sangakkara held on to another victim behind the timbers as South Africa lost their 7th wicket for 127 runs.
Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn defied Sri Lanka’s victory chase with a gritty resistance for more than 10 overs as the South African vice-captain scored his 2nd century in the series by pushing a Malinga delivery to deep square leg. Amla’s terrific century came in 99 balls but Amla’s 3rd century in Sri Lanka during the current stay (including the century against the Board President’s XI) came to an end from a low full-toss by Malinga when the stylish opener became the 8th South African wicket for a well-compiled 101 runs in 102 balls.
Sri Lanka finished off the tail without much burden as South Africa were bowled out for 180 runs in the 39th over handing the hosts a 87-run win and leveling the series 1-1.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 267 (Tillakaratne Dilshan 86, Mahela Jayawardene 48; Ryan McLaren 4 for 48) beat South Africa 180 (Hashim Amla 101; Tillakaratne Dilshan 3 for 40, Lasith Malinga 4 for 24) by 87 runs.
Man of the Match: Tillakaratne Dilshan
Full Scorecard
