1st ODI: Faf du Plessis century gives South Africa 8-wicket win over Sri Lanka
Cricket | March 03, 2019 21:37 ISTFaf Du Plessis finished on 112 not out and South Africa cruised to 232-2 to win with just over 11 overs to spare.
Faf Du Plessis finished on 112 not out and South Africa cruised to 232-2 to win with just over 11 overs to spare.
Lungi Ngidi had proved his fitness after recovering from a knee injury sustained last year.
South Africa won seven straight series at home before Sri Lanka, struggling for form, pulled off the first shock of the tour by chasing down 304 to win the first test and ensure they would at least draw the contest.
Vishwa Fernando and Kasun Rajitha shared six of the wickets as the tourists continued to defy pre-series predictions that they'd be easily overpowered in South Africa.
Chasing an unlikely 304, Sri Lanka was 226-9 and looked out of it at Kingsmead with the 10th wicket an apparent formality.
Perera almost single-handedly won the game but No. 11 batsman Vishwa Fernando played a crucial role as he hung around for 27 balls for his 6 not out to allow Perera, with nothing to lose.
Sri Lanka need another 221 runs with seven wickets left at a ground where there have been only four previous fourth-innings totals in excess of 300 in nearly 100 years of test cricket.
On Thursday, Steyn bowled a fiery unbroken 10-over spell with speeds constantly in the high 140s.
Steyn was instrumental in bowling Sri Lanka out for 191 to see South Africa hold a 44-run first-innings lead.
Sri Lankan bowlers set the tone for the visitors by wrapping up the hosts cheaply on day one of the first Test in Durban.
Chandimal's omission follows scores of 5, 0, 15, and 4 in the two recent Test losses against Australia.
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