Sangakkara ton helps SL regain pride
by Thahir Asmal 22 January 2012, 19:27
Kumar Sangakkara’s first century against South Africa helped Sri Lanka seal a two-wicket win in the fifth Sunfoil one-day international at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Full Scoring
The veteran left-hander made a composed 102 from 97 deliveries as the tourists chased down the 313 victory target with one ball to spare.
Lahiru Thirimanne played a role with his career-best 69 off 63, which also was a maiden career half-century, while Sachithra Senanayake was the hero at the death when he struck a six from the penultimate ball with the course almost looking lost.
The hosts had magnificent centuries from Graeme Smith (125) and AB de Villiers (125 not) to thank for getting them to 312 for four.
But they were again poor in the field and looked short of ideas with the visitors chasing a plus-300 total for a second game in succession following their exploits in the last game at Kimberley on Friday.
It also helped the Sri Lankans end the series as 3-2 losers and restored some pride after they were dismissed for 43 in the first match and the Proteas threatened a whitewash when they went 3-0 up after three games.
In truth, the men from the sub-continent hardly looked in trouble of losing until late on.
Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan (41) provided them with a swashbuckling start, putting on 56 before an hour-long rain delay.
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The two extended their partnership to 72 in just 10 overs when the former fell for 46, while Dilshan and Sangakkara added a further 47 for the next wicket.
The Sri Lanka captain fell to Lonwabo Tsotsobe, the most expensive of the South African bowlers with two for 54 in seven overs, before Sangakkara combined with Dinesh Chandimal (20) to add 56.
Sri Lanka went past the 150 mark while they were together, including Sangakkara crossing 50 in 54 balls.
CRUCIAL STAND
Parnell (2-51) removed Chandimal, before Thirimanne and the visiting wicketkeeper shared in a crucial 100 stand from 14.3 overs.
Sangakkara went to his 100 in the 44th over, but then fell when he lobbed JP Duminy gently to Robin Peterson at long off.
There were just 33 required from the last five overs and the visitors were still looking safe, until the final over when they brought it down to six from six.
They lost Nuwan Kulasekara (nought) and the set Thirimanne in the first three balls by Peterson (2-38) as panic was seemingly setting in.
But Senanayake played out the first ball, before dropping onto one knee and belting the next for a slog sweep six to take Sri Lanka over the line.
Earlier, Smith reached three figures for the first time in over two years – his last hundred came against England during the 2009 Champions Trophy – to silence his critics in some style as South Africa recovered from a sluggish start.
They were on just 103 in 25 overs after losing the toss and being asked to bat first, with Smith and De Villiers sharing a brilliant 186 run partnership for the third wicket to propel their team.
The first part of their stand was slow, but they then cut loose and when Smith reached his ninth one-day ton in 129 balls, the relief was clear as he punched the air.
He then began to free his arms and bashed Senanayake, who took his first international wicket earlier, for two slog sweeps, before falling at the start of the 46th over when he flicked Lasith Malinga (2-79) to a leaping Chandimal at midwicket, ending a knock that included nine fours and four maximums.
De Villiers reached his 12th career century by heaving Malinga over deep midwicket for six, to follow successive half-centuries in the last two games.
His confidence oozed to such an extent that he managed to swipe two clear off-side deliveries from Thisara Perera for sixes over fine leg to bring up the 300.
De Villiers’ came from just 98 balls, including 10 fours and four sixes, although South Africa ended the series on a low.
Teams
South Africa - Graeme Smith, Alviro Petersen, Colin Ingram, AB de Villiers (capt, wk), JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Albie Morkel, Robin Peterson, Wayne Parnell, Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
Sri Lanka - Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Sachithra Senanayake, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath.