RSWS 2022, Match 10 Review: Sri Lanka beat South Africa in last-over thriller

Sri Lanka Legends won by 11 runs against South Africa Legends in the 10th match of the Road Safety World Series (RSWS) 2022 at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore, on September 18.  The Sri Lankans brought up their third win in three games and cement their number one position on the table.

South Africa skipper Jonty Rhodes won the toss and put Sri Lanka to bat first. and they had a dreadful start with their skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan perishing only in the second over for 1 off 2 balls. His opening partner Dilshan Munaweera and number three batter Upul Tharanga added 60 runs for the second wicket before Munaweera was dismissed for 26 off 24 balls.

Tharanga departed after scoring a well-made 36 off 27 balls just after the 10-over mark, and the side were on 74 for three. Jeevan Mendis was the top scorer of the innings with an unbeaten 43 off 27, taking Sri Lanka to over 160. The pick of the South Africa Legends bowlers was off-spinner Johan Botha, who conceded only 18 runs in four overs and got the wicket of Munaweera.

Ishan Jayaratne holds his nerve in last over 

South Africa had to chase a target of 166, and like their opponents, they also lost their first wicket in the second wicket as Dilshan dismissed Andrew Puttick for 8 off 7. Then came the second-wicket partnership between Morne van Wyk and Alviro Petersen, who added 74 runs, putting the game well under South Africa's grasp.

Van Wyk’s splendid knock of 76 off 56, with four fours and six sixes, came to an end in the 17th over, with the South Africans needing 38 off 21 balls with five wickets in hand. Vernon Philander and Zander de Bruyn were on the crease, and it went all the way to the last over with South Africa Legends needing 21. Ishan Jayaratne, who bowled the 20th over, conceded only 9 runs.

Left-arm orthodox spinner Chaturanga de Silva starred with the ball, bowling a tidy spell of none for 12 in four overs, which was well complemented by pacer Isuru Udana, who picked up a wicket for 20 runs in four overs.