After winning the toss and electing to bat in the first ODI against South Africa, Sri Lanka posted 300/9 at the end of 50 overs.
Of these 300 runs, 90 runs were scored in the last 10 overs. All in all, it was a disappointing outing for South Africa’s bowlers, particularly the seamers.
South Africa’s spinning trio comprising Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Aiden Markram were the pick of the bowlers. In his quota of 10 overs, Maharaj picked two wickets and conceded 30 runs. Shamsi picked one wicket and conceded 55 runs.
Markram, who has often been used as a sixth bowling option took one wicket in his six-over spell, conceding 33 runs.
The seamers, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Andile Phehlukwayo struggled to bowl the right lines and lengths on this surface. Rabada took two wickets in his nine-over spell and gave 66 runs.
Nortje, bowling his full quota of 10 overs, went wicketless and gave 69 runs. Phehlukwayo also went wicketless in his five-over spell, giving away 37 runs.
From the Sri Lankan team, Avishka Fernando and Charith Asalanka were the pick of their batsmen, scoring 118 off 115 and 72 off 62, respectively.
Sluggish bowling sees Sri Lanka post 300 | 1st ODI SA vs SL
