Sri Lanka managed to guard their meagre total of 203 with fine-tuned bowling as they harshly restricted South Africa to 125 all out, winning by a comfortable 78 runs.

The Proteas’ chase looked ominous from the outset after losing their first three wickets inside the opening five overs, two of which were from defensive shots.

The manner in which the wickets fell screamed of indecision and hesitation, as the South Africans were evidently desperate for answers and short of confidence.

Aiden Markram was picked off in the second over when he attempted a block but outside-edged Praveen Jayawickrama’s bamboozling spin to first slip.

Reeza Hendricks’ turn was next, having been sent walking the very next over after an in-swing from Dushmantha Chameera cleared his bat in a defensive shot and nipped the top of his off stump.

Rassie van der Dussen fell in the fourth over when his mistimed flick got caught at short midwicket.
With SA, at that stage, having been on 19-3, they were seriously looking to kindle their innings, but they continuously failed to get going.

Some hope was beginning to flutter with Janneman Malan and Henrich Klaasen at the crease, as the pair put together a 26-run partnership before Malan outside-edged a wider ball to the lone slip fielder. Maheesh Theekshana bagged the wicket and Malan departed for 18.

Just as no momentum was being gathered, Wiaan Mulder was bowled on to leg stump by a googly from Dhananjaya de Silva in the 12th over.

In the 16th over Klaasen was dismissed by an LBW after misreading the turn of Theekshana’s off-spin and was sent for 22.
With Andile Phehlukwayo and George Linde thereafter having accumulated the best partnership of the match (36), SA’s hopes once again hung in the balance.

But Phehlukwayo’s dismissal added to their woes in the 22nd over when he nicked the ball to the keeper off Charith Asalanka, who was bowling his first over of the innings at the time.

Theekshana claimed another victim when Kagiso Rabada caught an edge to a diving catch at slip.
Straight after winning a referral after being given out for an LBW, Linde went for a slog-sweep and got caught at deep midwicket for 18. The Proteas were then staring right down the barrel.

The shot was fired in the 30th over, as Keshav Maharaj’s and Tebraiz Shamsi’s final efforts were left in vain when the former edged a delivery going down outside off and was sent packing for 15.

Theekshana packed the killer punch, claiming fine figures of 4/37 at the match close.