Visiting South Africa who toiled and were beaten in the Test series, strated their 5-day ODI series in a winning note by defeating Sri Lanka in the first match by five wickets at Dambula on Snday.
Returning to captaincy, Mathews won the toss and opted to bat on a wicket, where non of the Sri Lankan batsmen were able to counter the seam attack of the South African
Having 194 runs to chase, South Afrida as expected did fairly easily with only five wickets down and in 31 overs with a run-rate of 6.32 per over. The only hiccup was in taht 20 minutes play before lunch, Sri Lanka clawing their way back into the game by picking up two wickets in the first six overs – both picked up by Dananjaya. Amla and Markram were the men to be dismissed, both undone by wrong’uns by Dananjaya.
A comprehensive victory for South Africa in the end as they made 196 in 31 overs. They have cruised home by five wickets with JP Duminy remaining unbeaten on 53. Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis set the tone for the visitors with their twin knocks of 47 and Duminy provided the finishing touch by carting Sri Lankan bowlers all over the park. He hit five fours and two sixes. Willem Mulder remained not out on 14 .
Akila Dananjaya picked up 3/50 but there was little support for him from the other bowlers. With this win, South Africa have taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Earlier Tabraiz Shamsi got Lahiru Kumara stumped to end the Sri Lanka innings on 193 and finish with 4/33, the best figures in this match. Sri Lanka have been bowled out in 34.3 overs and it means South Africa will be batting for a while before the lunch break.
Thisara Perera and Kusal Perera added 92 runs in 55 balls for the sixth wicket and that was the only noteworthy highlight of this Sri Lankan effort as the batsmen fell like a deck of cards.
Kagiso Rabada picked up four wickets as well while Lungi Ngidi returned with one. Kusal was the top-scorer for Sri Lanka with 81 off 71 and was assisted by Thisara who made 49.
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