South Africa v Sri Lanka 5th ODI - 5 Talking Points

The story of the final match of the tour for Sri Lanka was pretty similar to what has been right through. South Africa were way too good for the inexperienced Asian team that didn’t have enough resources and teeth in their line-up to even pose a challenge. Batting first the hosts posted an impossible total with the help of centuries from both their openers Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock. Some contributions from others helped them post 284/6 in 50 overs.

Sri Lanka’s reply was typical – early wickets – regular wickets and they were out of the game even before the half way mark. Towards the end, though Gunaratne provided some firework with a blazing and fearless century it was a moment of individual high but of little use as Sri Lanka lost the match by 88 runs and thus the series 5-0.

1. Quinton de Kock

De Kock in form is a beautiful poem. There is grace, there is elegance and there is poise. Having not quite been in the best of forms recently apart from the half century he managed in the previous encounter a big knock was overdue from Quinton de Kock. He walked out with clear intent today and executed it exceptionally. A typical QDK knock where the ball rocks through the off-side no matter how many and where the fielders are placed the ball found its way.

He scored a brilliant hundred his 12th in ODI cricket (109 from 87 balls – 16 x 4s) and partnered with Hashim Amla for an 187-run first wicket stand.

2. Hashim Amla

The man who once personified consistency in this South African team is getting back to his best. He started the series with a magnificent century at Johannesburg (134) and hit an even bigger ton in the conclusive game at the Centurion. Amla didn’t have the pressure in this inning as Quinton was firing from the other end and the hapless Sri Lankan bowlers were already on the back foot. He paced his knock really well and scored a hundred. Amla also exploded after entering triple figures and the boundaries were coming easier now. He eventually got out after scoring 154 from 134 balls studded with 15 fours and 5 big sixes.

3. Sri Lanka’s comeback

Though it wasn’t a real comeback but they did manage to dismiss others for relatively lesser scores after both the Protea openers scored centuries. De Kock, JP Duminy, Faf Du Plessis and AB de Villiers were dismissed in quick succession – in a matter of less than 100 runs and that helped Sri Lanka stop South Africa from touching into the 400s. Suranga Lakmal was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets for 71 runs in his 10 overs. Madhushanka got a couple but was way too expensive giving away runs at 8.75, Vandersay was the only other bowler who got a wicket, he ended with 1/61.

4. Parnell and Morris shatter Sri Lanka

Starting a steep chase the Lankans would have also expected their openers to get them off to a flying yet stable start something similar to what Amla and de Kock did for South Africa. But their plans were dented first in the 4th over as Chris Morris broke through and Upul Tharanga was on his way back. Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Sandun Weerakkody and Dhananjaya de Silva were all back in the hut with less than 100 runs on the board.

By the time the South African opening bowlers finished their first spell the match was over for Sri Lanka.

5. Gunaratne and Pathirana fight a lost battle

What if the top order didn’t show spine and didn’t fight when they were put up against a massive total by the Proteas – the lower order pair of Asela Gunaratne and Sachith Pathirana weren’t just willing to give up. The required rate and the match was well beyond reach but that didn’t deter them from displaying individual brilliance. Sachitha scored a half century but became Chris Morris’ 4th victim on the night and departed for 56 runs. Asela, on the other hand, played some brash shots towards the end with nothing to lose and hit Parnel for five boundaries in the 43rd over.

With nothing to lose and life on the edge of his bat he slogged, slogged and slogged enough to score his maiden ODI century. He showed enough resistance with Lakmal for the 9th wicket and added 97 runs to deny South Africa the pleasure of bowling them out for one last time. At the end of it all Gunaratner was unbeaten on 114 and he should definitely take a lot of pride in his knock.