Kumar Sangakkara led a demolition job of AB De Villiers’ men, as Sri Lanka completed a 180 run thrashing of South Africa in the first ODI played at the R Premadasa Stadium.
The last time the Proteas visited the island nation, they were subjected to a brutal world record stand of 624 runs as Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene destroyed their test team. Memories of that mauling would have resurfaced today as Kumar Sangakkara ripped the South African bowling to absolute shreds, amassing a career best of 169 runs off just a 137 deliveries.
Before the start of the game, the focus was on Sri Lanka’s young middle order. Dinesh Chandimal in particular, was under the spotlight both for his batting and for his first gig as ODI captain. In the end he didn’t have to undergo scrutiny at all, as his, and the rest of the middle orders, batting were largely unneeded and his time on the field was absolutely stress free. As far as captaincy debuts go, you couldn’t ask for much better than this one.
About the only thing that went South Africa’s way was the toss. AB De Villiers asked the Sri Lankans to take first lease of the wicket, taking into mind the recent successes of sides batting second at this venue. The Proteas had a Good News/Bad News kind of morning as far as team selections were concerned: Morne Morkel, who was an injury doubt in the lead up to this game, was adjudged fit. Unfortunately, Hashim Amla, who is one of their most prolific scorers, was adjudged unfit, due to a minor neck strain. Sri Lanka decided to play Jehan Mubarak and Thisara Perera instead of the uncapped Angelo Perera, primarily due to the bowling options they presented.
The injury to Amla, and the first two overs should have signalled to De Villiers that it was going to be that kind of day: A total of seven wides were sent down by Morne Morkel and Chris Morris, and a simple catch was grassed in the slips off Morkels bowling. They managed to tighten up considerably after that horror start however, and Morris bowled TM Dilshan for 10 to get things rolling for the Proteas.
Sangakkara’s start to his innings gave no indication to the South Africans of the carnage that was about to follow. He went about business in typical fashion, holding up one end and putting together useful partnerships with both Tharanga and Jayawardene, both looking in good touch and chipping in with forties. Sangakkara himself was building his innings to a crescendo, having scored 66 off 91 at one point, before unleashing.
It was in the latter third of the innings that he finally cut loose; 106 runs were plundered of 46 deliveries as he dominated the South African attack with aggression not normally associated with him. The South Africans persisted with bowling short to him, and he made them pay heavily for it; 78% of his runs were scored on the leg side. A very lax display by the Proteas fielders did not help their cause one bit either. Morne Morkel was the only bowler to end up with decent figures, but Sangakkara took the rest of the attack by the scruff off their necks and tossed them around at will, playing audacious shots and thoroughly demoralizing them. He was bowled once, attempting a scoop shot, only to have the umpire call it a no ball due to De Villiers not having enough men inside the 30 yard circle.
Sangakkara was involved in a 123 run stand with Lahiru Thirimanne for the 4th wicket. If any negatives were to be taken away from this performance by the Sri Lankans it was Thirimanne’s performance, as he scored just 17 runs in that stand, and struggled to both hit the boundaries, and to take singles and get Sangakkara on strike for more deliveries. Angelo Mathews has stated that Thirimanne has the potential to be the next Sangakkara; one only has to watch the stark contrast between the two in that partnership to see how far Thirimanne has yet to go.
Sangakkara finally fell for a career best score, but Thisara Perera gave the Lankan innings the final push with a cameo at the end, sealing the innings with a six to bring the score to a massive 320 for 5.
South Africa were always going to find the chase difficult, and they got off to the worst possible start. Lasith Malinga delivered a fast in swinging yorker to castle Colin Ingram in the very first ball of their innings. JP Duminy looked good against Malinga but Sangakkara got into the act again to take a superb low catch to dismiss him off Shaminda Eranga’s bowling.
Alviro Petersen and AB De Villiers got a partnership going to give the Proteas hope, but Sri Lanka’s go-to-man Rangana Herath managed to get one through De Villiers defence, and once Peterson was also dismissed in the following over, the end result seemed inevitable.
South Africa lost their last 6 wickets for just 58 runs. The inexperienced middle order showed little patience or temperament, and some good fielding saw the Sri Lankans capitalise on the chances given. Sangakkara fittingly wrapped up the Proteas innings as he stumped Aaron Phangiso and left the South Africans all out for a meagre 180.
The Sri Lankans will be delighted with this performance and will want to maintain this standard throughout the series. For the South Africans, as AB De Villiers stated at the presentation ceremony, they can’t get much worse so the only direction to go is upwards.
South Africa’s new-look spin-heavy attack was on display first in Colombo after AB de Villiers chose to put Sri Lanka in to bat in the first ODI under new coach Russell Domingo’s command. They fielded both frontline spinners, Robin Peterson and Aaron Phangiso, in an attack that also included the slower bowling option of JP Duminy.
An injury concern to Morne Morkel looked certain to keep him out of the first match but his quad niggle eased in time to allow his experience to be included in the XI. Together with Chris Morris and Ryan McLaren, he made up a three-pronged seam attack.
South Africa had a major change at the top of the order. Hashim Amla was left out because of stiffness in the neck so Colin Ingram got another chance to open, ahead of Quinton de Kock. Alviro Petersen was included as his partner.
The rest of their batting line-up is also different to ones they have put out in recent times with Duminy in a new role at No. 3, followed by de Villiers, Faf du Plessis and David Miller at No. 6, a position higher than his usual.
Sri Lanka went into the encounter also looking slightly different to the norm. Dinesh Chandimal captained for the first time in Angelo Mathews’ absence.
Other changes were the inclusion of Jehan Mubarak for the first time in four years and the recall of Thisara Perera, who was dropped for the tri-series in West Indies.
South Africa have not played an ODI in Sri Lanka in nearly nine years and have won only one match against the hosts on the island.
