UDANA HEROICS NOT ENOUGH AS SA SEAL T20 SERIES
Sri Lanka all-rounder Isuru Udana hit a fighting half century but could not prevent South Africa from winning the second Twenty20 International by 16 runs and the series with a game to spare at the Supersport Park in Centurion yesterday. The 31-year-old right-hander batting at number eight, smashed 84 from just 48 deliveries with the aid of six sixes and eight boundaries as Sri Lanka eventually ended with a respectable 164 for nine.
They were heading towards a heavy defeat at one stage after having collapsed to 83 for seven in the 14th over following some hostile bowling from Dale Steyn and Chris Morris.
Earlier, opening batsman Reeza Hendricks hit a high-quality 65 as South Africa scored 180 for three after they put into bat.
Hendricks started the season as one of the favourites to make South Africa’s Squad for the Cricket World Cup later this year but a run of poor form, together with the resurgence of Aiden Markram, put his chances in doubt.
Markram opened the batting with Hendricks but was out for three in the second over.
Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen (64) then took charge in a second wicket stand of 116 off 78 balls.
While Van der Dussen’s innings was marked by power hitting, which brought him four fours Reeza Hendricks plays a shot
and three sixes, Hendricks oozed class as he struck nine fours in a 46-ball innings marked by fluent off-side drives.
Sri Lanka Captain Lasith Malinga, who sent South Africa in to bat, ended the stand when Hendricks hit a slower ball to mid-off.
Off-spinner Akila Dananjaya bowled Van der Dussen two overs later and the scoring-rate slowed briefly before South African stand-in Captain J. P. Duminy finished the innings with a flourish, scoring 33 not out off 17 balls.
Sri Lanka named the same team that were beaten on a Super Over in the first of three matches in Cape Town on Tuesday, with a bowling attack based mainly on spin. (Agencies)