Imperious South Africa look to close out series

Pic by Sameera Peiris

South Africa have gone back to their dominant ways at home and will look to capitalise against a dented Sri Lankan team when they clash in the third ODI on Sunday, 10 March.

South Africa are leaving no stone unturned in showing that the Test series defeat was nothing more than an aberration. Imran Tahir spun them out and the top-order exerted its might in the first ODI. Sri Lanka were a lot better with the ball in the second game, nipping out a strong start to send the home team from 131/1 to 251 all out. But they were also a lot worse with the bat, collapsing to 138 all out.

South Africa have deliberately kept Dale Steyn out, in a bid to test their bench strength, and have dominated even without him. All their bowlers, save for pacer Wiaan Mulder, came to the fore to win them the second ODI.

Quinton de Kock has been in impeccable form, as he often is in home ODIs, and Faf du Plessis made another fifty – he now has scored fifty or more in his last seven internationals. But South Africa’s inexperienced middle order was a worry at the start of the series, and it showed in Centurion, where they couldn’t keep up with the start provided at the top. Can their newer faces step up and play a reassuring hand as the team seeks to firm up spots for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019?

Sri Lanka’s problems begin right at the top. Opening partnerships of 13 and 11 so far have opened the gates early and set them up for collapse. Sri Lanka replaced Upul Tharanga with newcomer Avishka Fernando in Centurion, but it didn’t count for much as Fernando perished, attempting too many shots too soon, after having begun brightly with a four and a six.

Will they turn back to the experienced Tharanga as they chase their maiden win? And if they do, is it fair on the young Fernando to be dropped after just one game? Do they want to fall back on experience to win this series or look beyond and give enough game time to the younger lot ahead of the World Cup? Or will Niroshan Dickwella pay the price for three single-digit scores in his last four ODIs? These are important questions to be addressed.

Thisara Perera hasn’t been at his best with the bat so far, and that hasn’t helped a Sri Lanka side that has relied on him heavily over the last few months. But while an on-song Perera can bruise bowling attacks around the world, Sri Lanka need to lose their dependence on him. That will take some of the younger players to come to the fore and prove why investing in them is the right direction to move in as the World Cup draws closer.

Sri Lanka can take heart from their bowling performance and the spirit they showed to fight back from a strong South African start. Perhaps the most encouraging sign was the performance of Lasith Malinga, who returned 2/39 in nine overs. If the batsmen can similarly step up and take initiative, Sri Lanka should be able to push South Africa much harder in a series with still plenty at stake.

Key players

Imran Tahir (South Africa): The legspinner has 5/65 in 19 overs in his last two matches. Sri Lanka are already short on confidence, and Tahir is just the kind of bowler to capitalise on that, with his guile, variety and class. Tahir can flummox batsmen on the best of days. Against a lineup bereft of confidence, how much more potent can he be?

Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka): Mendis has often been Sri Lanka’s go-to batsman during strife. Remember the 176 he made against Australia in Kandy to script a stunning come-from-behind win? Or his monumental effort in the company of Angelo Mathews to bat out an entire day and save the Wellington Test against New Zealand? Mendis has been Sri Lanka’s highest scorer so far, with 84 runs in two matches, and Sri Lanka will expect a lot more from his bat.

Conditions

Kingsmead has had just one 300-plus total in the last six innings, and going by the scores so far in this series, that trend looks set to continue. There is an 80% chance of rain on Sunday, with thunderstorms forecast at around 2pm local time.

Squads

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Willem Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Rassie van der Dussen

Sri Lanka: Lasith Malinga (c), Akila Dananjaya, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Oshada Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Angelo Perera, Kusal Perera, Priyamal Perera, Thisara Perera, Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan, Upul Tharanga, Isuru Udana