South Africa vs Sri Lanka: Turning points

Jaideep Marar 12:24 04/06/2017
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  • AB de Villiers after the dismissal of Kusal Mendis [Getty Images]

    Although there were some hiccups, it was a clinical performance in the end from South Africa as they got the better of Sri Lanka in their Group B encounter in the ICC Champions Trophy on Saturday.

    Here, we look at three moments where the game was decided.

    AB’S MAGIC

    Until the 12th over of the Sri Lankan innings, AB de Villiers had an ordinary day. He lost the toss and then failed miserably with the bat scoring just four runs. But trust the South African captain to create magic with his extraordinary skills, if not his batting then with his fielding.

    He first took a brilliant catch leaping high to his right at short mid-on to send back Kusal Mendis and then in the 18th over affected a sensational run-out to dismiss Dinesh Chandimal.

    The Sri Lankan batsman made the cardinal sin of taking a run off a misfield by de Villiers who regained his ground quickly and despite being off balance managed to hit the stumps with Chandimal inches away from the crease.

    Both dismissals hurt Sri Lanka badly as they were in the process of rebuilding the innings after the fall of a wicket.

    MALINGA’S DROP

    Malinga dropping du Plessis was a crucial moment [Getty Images]

    Malinga dropping du Plessis was a crucial moment [Getty Images]

    Returning to the ODI side after a 19-month gap did not turn out be a good outing for the ‘Slinger’. Lasith Malinga started off with a fine opening spell of 4-0-14-0 but then undid it all by dropping a sitter at deep fine-leg to let off Faf du Plessis, who was on nine then.

    The South African No.3 top-edged a pull off Nuwan Pradeep and it flew high to Malinga, who misjudged it completely and grassed it.

    South Africa, who were struggling at 59-1 in 16.1 overs at that stage broke the shackles after Malinga’s miss as du Plessis in the company of opener Hashim Amla added 130 runs in the next 17.2 overs.

    MATHEWS’ INJURY

    Sri Lanka opened their Champions Trophy campaign on a faltering note even before they trooped out at the Kennington Oval on Saturday when their captain Angelo Mathews was ruled out with a calf injury.

    Mathews’ absence was a double blow as Sri Lanka missed him hugely in the bowling and batting departments. He would have been an ideal foil to the fast bowlers with his medium-pace in the middle overs besides providing stability to the batting order while chasing a stiff target.

    He would have made an impact if he had played as a batsman but a failed fitness test before the match ruled out that possibility denting Sri Lanka’s hopes.

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