South Africa batters help wrap up 3-0 series whitewash against Sri Lanka

A sterling display from South Africa’s batters helped the Proteas to a comfortable 39-run win against Sri Lanka, sealing a 3-0 T20I series whitewash.

Solid cameos from the top five took took South Africa to an imposing total of 163/5, and Sri Lanka never looked to be in sight of the stiff target.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field but weren’t to enjoy much success in the opening overs. Dane van Niekerk and Tazmin Brits got the hosts off to a solid start, bringing up a half-century partnership from 43 balls. Brits (36) was the first to depart, falling victim to Inoka Ranaweera.

Van Niekerk continued her excellent run of form with the bat, following up scores of 71 not out and 33 with a 29-ball 38 that featured three fours and one six. It was an excellent effort considering she was forced to take a break part-way through the innings due to a stomach bug.

Nevertheless, the rest of the batting line-up all stepped up to continue the smooth accumulation of runs. Marizanne Kapp contributed a quick-fire 19, Lara Goodall hit three fours in a 30-ball 35. Sune Luus, who impressed with the ball the previous match, collecting a five-wicket haul, was brutal with the bat, a 15-ball 26 including two maximums. A spell of 1/23 with the ball would see her all-round performance rewarded with the Player-of-the-Match award.

Sri Lanka’s innings could not have gotten off to a worse start, with South Africa’s new-ball pairing of Kapp and Shabnim Ismail carrying out their usual excellence. Kapp removed Prasadani Weerakkody for a second-ball duck, and the opening bowlers proved difficult to get away as Sri Lanka amassed just nine runs from their first four overs.

A bright spark for Sri Lanka was Chamari Athapaththu, who hit 43 from just 36 balls, blasting six fours and one six. At the other end, her colleagues were unable to match her exploits. Hasini Madushika could amass only 13 from 24 balls before being bowled by Nadine de Klerk. Athapaththu departed to Ismail in the 13th over as Sri Lanka crumbled from 72-2 to 124-8 from their 20 overs.

Beyond the efforts of Athapaththu, Shashikala Siriwardene built on her innings of 38 in the previous match, hitting 29 from 21 balls. Nevertheless, it proved to be a stroll in the park for South Africa, a far cry from the tense last-over finish in Johannesburg. De Klerk collected figures of 3/27 from her four overs, while the economical Ismail finished with 2/11, as the hosts completed the three-match series in total comfort.

Courtesy : Srilankasports.com