1st Twenty20: South Africa make up for dismal ODI series
Duminy helps tourists outwit Sri Lanka in 12-run win.
COLOMBO:
JP Duminy starred with bat and ball as South Africa overcame Sri Lanka in an exciting 12-run victory in the first Twenty20 international in Colombo on Friday.
The tourists, restricted to a modest 115 for six after electing to bat, bounced back to stop Sri Lanka at 103 for nine in front of a packed house of 30,000 at the Premadasa Stadium.
South Africa’s Twenty20 captain Faf du Plessis was delighted by his team’s win.
“I am very chuffed and so proud of the boys,” said Du Plessis. “We were under pressure after the One-Day International (ODI) series, but the team showed great character tonight.”
Duminy top-scored with 51 off 52 balls to help the tourists recover from a poor start and then grabbed three wickets for 18 runs, earning himself the man-of-the-match award.
It was a morale-boosting win for South Africa over the world’s top-ranked Twenty20 side following an embarrassing 4-1 defeat in the last ODI series.
Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal said bad batting cost his team the match.
“We bowled well, but then undid all the good work with some rash shots,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 4th, 2013.
JP Duminy starred with bat and ball as South Africa overcame Sri Lanka in an exciting 12-run victory in the first Twenty20 international in Colombo on Friday.
The tourists, restricted to a modest 115 for six after electing to bat, bounced back to stop Sri Lanka at 103 for nine in front of a packed house of 30,000 at the Premadasa Stadium.
South Africa’s Twenty20 captain Faf du Plessis was delighted by his team’s win.
“I am very chuffed and so proud of the boys,” said Du Plessis. “We were under pressure after the One-Day International (ODI) series, but the team showed great character tonight.”
Duminy top-scored with 51 off 52 balls to help the tourists recover from a poor start and then grabbed three wickets for 18 runs, earning himself the man-of-the-match award.
It was a morale-boosting win for South Africa over the world’s top-ranked Twenty20 side following an embarrassing 4-1 defeat in the last ODI series.
Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal said bad batting cost his team the match.
“We bowled well, but then undid all the good work with some rash shots,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 4th, 2013.