SA v SL, 2nd T20I Review: Angelo Mathews guides Lankans to win

Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews guided the Sri Lankans to an impressive win over South Africa in the second T20 international at Johannesburg. However, the two sixes from him in the final over including the massive heaves over mid-wicket and long on whilst in spectacular pain not only showed character but also saw the Lankans on the way back to the Island with at least a T20 international win under their belt.

The Johannesburg wicket was perhaps a harder wicket to bat on despite the fact that it was a beautiful day in South Africa. The humdinger was also something that ensured that the beautiful day saw an amazing encounter as well. It was low-scoring, but it did not matter. Perhaps it was the dryness of the wicket that prompted skipper Farhaan Behardien to have a bat first.

However, it was sooner that they would realize that the dryness could very well be exploited by a certain debutante Lakshan Sandakan. The southpaw would help himself to four wickets as the Lankans would also realize that this was perhaps the player who they have well and truly been waiting for. Angelo Mathews might have opened the bowling, but it was Nuwan Kulasekara who picked up the first wicket of JJ Smuts. Isuru Udana, the left-arm pacer making his comeback in the grand scheme of things then went on to help himself to the important wicket of Thenius de Bruyn.

In fact, it was skipper Farhaan Behardien who made the only other important contribution to the side’s cause given the fact that Heino Kuhn was weighing in the anchor in the grand scheme of things. Kuhn and Behardien smashed 29 and 27 respectively as the former was the top-scorer of the innings with these two batsmen being the only ones who crossed the 20-run threshold.

After being bowled out for 113, it was clear that the Lankans had a chance of securing a win, their first one in the series. Lungi Ngidi however, had different ideas as he simply demolished the entire top-order as well. Although Niroshan Dickwella was aiming towards weighing in the anchor, the wickets at the other end in the form of Dhanajaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis. Dinesh Chandimal and Dickewella helped themselves to 22 each as they ensured that the Lankans inched closer to victory.

However, it was Angelo Mathews who showed some impressive responsibility with some tremendous batsmanship as he went ahead and slammed the ball to different parts. He also slammed 54, the only half-century of the encounter who would ensure that Sri Lanka went ahead and secured a win in the second game at Johannesburg.

Brief Scores:

South Africa: 113 all out in 19.3 overs (H Kuhn 29; L Sandakan 4/23)

Sri Lanka: 119/7 in 19.4 overs (A Mathews 54; L Ngidi 4/19)