Cricket: Perera revives Sri Lanka’s fortunes

South Africa beaten in 4th ODI by five wickets, still lead series 3-1.

KIMBERLEY:

Sri Lanka celebrated a rare success on the tour of South Africa with a five-wicket victory in the fourth One-Day International.

Big knocks from captain Tillakaratne Dilshan (87), man-of-the-match Thisara Perera (69) and Dinesh Chandimal (59) guided the visitors past the 300-run target which was set after AB de Villiers’ entertaining 96.

South Africa pay price for resting Steyn

After keeping close to the six-run-an-over target for much of the innings, the Sri Lankans hit out against a South African attack sorely missing rested fast bowler Dale Steyn.

Unfortunately, the win came too late for the tourists to affect the five-game series with the Proteas taking a winning 3-0 lead three days ago thanks to a four-run win in a rain-hit Bloemfontein contest.

But the outcome in this northern Cape city did emphasise the steady improvement of Sri Lanka after a nightmare opening match in which they were bowled for 43 to suffer a humiliating 258-run loss.

Dilshan delighted with team’s effort

“This was a fantastic effort as we were hoping to restrict South Africa to 250 or 260 runs,” said Dilshan. “On a personal note it was nice getting a big score again.”

Dilshan averaged a run a ball in a 112-minute stand that included nine fours and two sixes, while Perera was even quicker, taking just 44 balls with three fours and five sixes in his tally.

Chandimal helps keep South Africa at bay

Meanwhile, Chandimal may have struck only one six and one four and taken longer to compile his runs but he was a steadying mid-innings influence as South Africa desperately sought wickets to disrupt Sri Lanka’s momentum in the run-chase.

Dilshan believes his side can win at the Wanderers tomorrow as the Sri Lankan government called for a probe into a ‘crisis situation’ following series losses suffered at the hands of England, Australia and Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2012.