Twitter Reactions: Bowlers and Quinton de Kock help the visitors brush aside the Lankan challenge

The second ODI between South Africa and Sri Lanka was played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. The day-night encounter offered a great chance for the hosts to level the five-match series. But the Faf du Plessis-led visitors didn’t give them an opportunity to have an upper hand in the game at any stage. Their bowlers continued to be incisive much like they were in the series opener and restricted the opposition to a below-par total.

Sri Lanka were once again lucky with the coin toss as they opted to bat first on a deck which was expected to get slower as the game progresses. Their woes at the top continued though as Upul Tharanga and Kusal Mendis threw their wickets away by playing a poor shot. Lungi Ngidi dismissed them off successive deliveries. Kusal Perera also didn’t last long which left them reeling at 56/3.

The skipper Angelo Mathews arrived at the middle then as he and Niroshan Dickwella resurrected the innings. The latter played his shots bravely and notched up a well-deserved half-century. However, he couldn’t play the much needed big knock for his team and was castled by impressive Andile Phehlukwayo. Shehan Jayasuriya and Thisara Perera couldn’t contribute much as the wickets kept tumbling from the other end.

Mathews fought his way through to a half-century but could never open up his arms with fewer wickets in hand. Sri Lanka could never accelerate until the end as they posted the total of 244 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs. It was only because of Mathews’ laboured knock of 79 runs they were able to play their full quota of 50 overs.

De Kock shines in the chase

South Africa needed a perfect start from their openers in the chase and they didn’t disappoint. The duo of Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla added 91 runs for the opening wicket in 14 overs. The latter found some form finally and looked comfortable for his 43 runs until he was caught and bowled off Akila Dananjaya. Aiden Markram’s miseries against spin continued as he was dismissed by the same bowler for 3.

However, Du Plessis and De Kock continued their charge and took care that the run-rate never dropped. The duo played their shots as none of the other bowlers apart from Dananjaya looked threatening and stitched a stand of 53 runs. Just when it felt that the left-hander will reach his ton, he misjudged the lofted shot and was caught in the deep to gift Kasun Rajitha his maiden wicket. He scored 87 runs during his stay in the middle.

But they were on course for the chase as the skipper led from the front by attacking the same bowler. He smashed him left, right and centre even as the shoulders began to drop for Sri Lanka. But a couple of quick wickets lifted them as Du Plessis and David Miller were sent back in the space of 5 deliveries. But JP Duminy once again kept his nerves and made sure they didn’t botch up the chase.

In the end, South Africa reached the target in the 43rd over with 4 wickets in hand. Willem Mulder played a patient hand of 19 runs and remained unbeaten to take his side to a 2-0 lead in the ODI series.

Here’s how Twitter reacted during the course of the match: