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Sri Lanka In Sensational Win Over South Africa In 2nd ODI At Premadasa!

Suni Perera-Sightscreens Unlimited For LankaWeb

Sri Lanka having won the toss on a glorious day for cricket with the temperature in the sweltering 30s and an ideal batting wicket despite some tentative early and middle order batting pulled off a tremendous win in the 2nd ODI at Premadasa Stadium.The chief architects for the win were Kumar Sangakkara and Upul Chandana who held the batting together with fierce concentration and the heady bowling of Nuwan Zoysa (5 for 26 in 8 overs) who was devastating as he ripped through the South African defences and Tilekeratne Dilshan(4 for 52 in 9.5 overs) who ably backed Zoysa in the Sri Lankan attack of combined pace and spin as the South Africans toppled to the 2nd defeat with 3 more to go.In a game which could have gone either way the Lankans proved to be great fighters having put together a modest score and the target seemingly within the Saffies reach with their colorful batting array but Zoysa and Dilshan had other ideas as South Africa were bowled out for a paltry 176.

The Lankan openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Avishka Gunewardena began cautiously never really settling down to the South African pace attack of Pollock, Dawson and Ntini. Shaun Pollock bowled Jayasuriya for 9 playing across to a ball that was very deceptive as it seemed to veer and straighten up as Jayasuriya groped, missed and his off stump was knocked back(18 for 1). Skipper Marvan Atapattu was soon off the mark with a sizzling square cut to point in masterful fashion all the way to the ropes and the hard hitting Avishka Gunewardena as usual slow to settle plodding on, hitting Dawson for a well timed six on the off bringing the crowd to its feet. With both batsmen playing confidently and moving the score along Sri Lanka seemed to be on the way fairly comfortably.

Makaya Ntini the first change, replacing the somewhat expensive Dawson, bowling with excellent line, length and zip looking formidable soon spelled trouble for Sri Lanka as he had Gunewardena caught behind swishing outside the off stump for 21 (45 for 2) and South Africa seemed to be on a surge. Sangakkara next in together with Atapattu now began playing somewhat cautiously as the South Africans pinned them down to a slow crawl and drinks taken.

Ntini continuing his fine effort after the drink break struck again as he had Atapattu 26 chasing a widish ball outside the off stump snapped up by custodian Boucher (69 for 3).Lance Klusener who had joined him in the attack also on good line and length never really allowed Mahela Jayawardena who came in after Atapattu to settle down and after a cautious 17 minutes at the crease was also caught behind for a duck by a jubilant Mark Boucher who seemed to be having a field day behind the stumps (72 for 4) and the future for the Lankans looking ominousJ

Jacques Kallis was given the leather next by Skipper Graeme Smith taking off Klusener who had bowled an excellent spell and Kallis soon justified the decision, removing Tillekeratne Dilshan 5 who had batted with great confidence in the first ODI win , grope high in defence of one which lifted sharply at visor level and edging into the slips to be snapped up by Pollock86 for 5 as the Sri Lankans were in dire straits (86 for 5) or so it appeared!

Sri Lanka's apparent debacle was soon set right as Sri Lankas' lion hearted match saver Upul Chandana and a particular crowd favourite joined up with the flamboyant Kumar Sangakkara already initiating rearguard action at the other end and batting with his usual breezy confidence though somewhat subdued. Chandana , who had made it to the game after a revolting personal attack on him by armed forces personnel in plain clothes who had turned on him and his son over a 'road rage' incident and Chandana and son treated at a local hospital. (hopefully the culprits will be sought out, taken to task and severely dealt with despite preliminary apologies which are of little consequence and shameful!) Together with Sangakkara Chandana added 93 valuable runs for the 6th wicket cutting loose for an invaluable 61 not out and lifted Sri Lanka's total of 213 to one of respectability and were the chief operatives in Sri Lanka's win together with Nuwan Zoysa, Chaminda Vaas and Tillekeratne Dilshan who excelled with their bowling efforts.

With the Sri Lanka total on 157 for 5 and looking good for at least 230 the famous Sri Lankan runout syndrome which had been absent for sometime saw the exit in quick succession of Sangakkara for 63 (179 for 6) and Vaas 7 ( 188 for 7).Kallis mopping up dismissed Kaushal Lokuarachchi trapping him lbw for3 (198 for 8) and clean bowling Nuwan Zoysa 6 (213 for 9) with the final delivery as South Africa seemed content about a hard days work!The Saffies might be in for a bit of punitive action from the match referee as they dragged their heels to be 21 minutes overdue on allocated time to complete 50 overs.

The Sri Lankan attack began with Nuwan Zoysa carving up a memorable niche for his last bachelor day on the eve of his wedding (Congratulations in advance for the happy occassion to Nuwan and his Bride ) decimating the South African batting machine with career best figures of 5 for 26.Together with the ever reliable Chaminda Vaas , Nuwan Zoysa gave no chance for any South African aspirations for a win and bowled with great alacricity and fire as wickets tumbled and South Africa were reeling at one stage on 69 for 6! but stemmed to a degree by fighting knocks as Pollock and Klusener held out for a while.

Herschell Gibbs never really in command had his stumps spreadeagled by Zoysa for 7 (15 for 1).Nicky Boje promoted to No.3 looked promising at the outset with some finely played shots settling in after a bit of flailing against Zoysa and Vaas but on 14 skied Zoysa as Tilekeratne Dilshan took a fine running catch at backward of point. (35 for 2).In the very next ball Graeme Smith somewhat subdued on 14 played the ball onto his stumps off Zoysa now bowling with fire (36 for 3) and soon after, Jacques Kallis was ruled lbw for a duck off one that kept low and may have moved away from the leg stump not picked up by the umpire whose finger was up. (37 for 4)

Zoysa now hurling thunderbolts with great direction and intensity removed Rudolph for 4 caught behind by Sangakkara (40 for 5) as Zoyza had captured 5 of his best! acknowledging the selectors confidences in him in a long career of gutsy determination, fighting injury and the will to compete with Sri Lanka's best!

The spinners took over at this stage as Kaushal Lokuarachchi continued to turn the screws on South Africa and enticed Mark Boucher into mistiming a cover drive straight to Mahela Jayawardena in the slips for 4 ( 50 for 6) and the South Africans were sinking rapidly! Tilekeratne Dilshan from the other end turned on a fine display of controlled off spin bowling as he polished off the tail which was beginning to offer a bit of stiff resistance, dislodging Duminy for a stubborn 22 trapping him in front (94 for 7). Pollock certainly no tail ender but fast running out of partners on 54 caught Atapattu,(145 for 8), Dawson 15 well caught by Chaminda Vaas (176 for 9) and last out Klusener caught Jayasuriya, for a defiant 40 (176 all out)

Next on to Dambulla with two up and three to go where the Dambulla wicket for the next two games will probably be of an unpredictable nature and Sri Lanka in the driving seat as this one goes into the books as an unleashing of Nuwan Zoysa fury.

South Africa being the fighters they however can never be dispelled from a strong performance and bouncing back despite being rattled at Premadasa Stadium today where Sri Lanka won the day!The Final game is scheduled to be played at the SSC Stadium in Colombo.

Sri Lanka 213 for 9 (Sangakkara 63, Chandana 61*) beat South Africa 176 all out (Pollock 54, Zoysa 5-26) by 37 runs

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