Du Plessis ton helps South Africa to easy win over Sri Lanka

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