3 March 2019 12:50 pm Views - 244
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa captain Faf du Plessis scored an unbeaten century to lead his side to a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first One-Day International at The Wanderers on Sunday.
After winning the toss and electing to field, South Africa bowled the visitors out for 231 in 47 overs before chasing down their victory target for the loss of two wickets and with 67 balls remaining.
Kusal Mendis (60 from 73 balls) top-scored for Sri Lanka before he was one of a trio of victims for leg-spinner Imran Tahir (3-26 in 10 overs), the pick of the home bowlers.
Seamer Lungi Ngidi (3-60) also made a solid return to the team after four months on the sidelines through injury.
South Africa never looked troubled in their reply as Du Plessis (112 in 114 balls) and Quinton de Kock (81 from 72 balls) put on 136 at more than a run-a-ball for the second wicket.
Du Plessis’ century was his 11th in ODI cricket and continues his fine form in the 50-over format with 259 runs in his last four innings, during which time he has only been dismissed once.
The second fixture in the five-match series will be played in Pretoria on Wednesday.
Both teams are using the series to fine-tune their selections ahead of the World Cup in England and Wales that starts in late May.
Scoreboard
Sri Lanka 1st innings
Niroshan Dickwella c&b Lungi Ngidi 8
Upul Tharanga b Lungi Ngidi 9
Kusal Perera c Quinton de Kock b Imran Tahir 33
Oshada Fernando Run Out David Miller 49
Kusal Mendis c Rassie van der Dussen b Imran Tahir 60
Dhananjaya de Silva st Quinton de Kock b Imran Tahir 39
Thisara Perera c David Miller b Kagiso Rabada 7
Lasith Malinga c Imran Tahir b Lungi Ngidi 15
Lakshan Sandakan c Quinton de Kock b Anrich Nortje 3
Vishwa Fernando Not Out 1
Extras 0b 0lb 0nb 0pen 7w 7
Total (47.0 overs) 231 all out
Fall of Wickets : 1-13 Dickwella, 2-23 Tharanga, 3-99 Perera, 4-101 Fernando, 5-195 de Silva, 6-210 Mendis, 7-211 Perera, 8-213 Perera, 9-219 Sandakan, 10-231 Malinga
Did Not Bat : Perera
Bowling: Kagiso Rabada 9 0 48 1, Lungi Ngidi 10 0 60 3, Anrich Nortje 7 1 33 1, Dwaine Pretorius 7 0 44 0, Imran Tahir 10 1 26 3, Wiaan Mulder 4 0 20 0 5.00
South Africa 1st innings
Quinton de Kock lbw Akila Dananjaya 81
Reeza Hendricks c Niroshan Dickwella b Vishwa Fernando 1
Faf du Plessis Not Out 112
Rassie van der Dussen Not Out 32
Extras 0b 1lb 0nb 0pen 5w 6
Total (38.5 overs) 232-2
Fall of Wickets : 1-14 Hendricks, 2-150 de Kock
Did Not Bat : Miller, Mulder, Pretorius, Rabada, Nortje, Tahir, Ngidi
Bowling: Lasith Malinga 7 0 37 0, Vishwa Fernando 5 0 43 1, Akila Dananjaya 10 0 52 1, Thisara Perera 3 0 22 0, Dhananjaya de Silva 4 0 21 0, Lakshan Sandakan 9.5 0 56 0