Hendricks hits ton on debut in SA win
pallekele — Batsman Reeza Hendricks smashed a century on his one-day international debut to set up South Africa’s seriesclinching 78-run win over Sri Lanka in the third match in Pallekele on Sunday.
Hendricks made 102 off 89 deliveries to help South Africa post 363-7 before they bowled out the hosts for 285 in 45.2 overs and took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
Dhananjaya de Silva did try to infuse life into the chase with a career-best 84 but Sri Lanka’s batting crumbled under the ever-increasing run-rate.
Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi claimed four wickets while fellow paceman Andile Phehlukwayo took three.
But it was Hendricks, a righthand batsman who has played 12 Twenty20 internationals, who set up the win for his side.
The 28-year-old became only the third South African batsman to register a hundred in his first ODI. Colin Ingram and Temba Bavuma are the other two.
Jean-Paul Duminy’s 92 off 70 balls, and half-centuries by Hashim Amla and David Miller, also contributed to South Africa’s imposing total after being put into bat first.
Amla gave South Africa a brisk start with his run-a-ball 59 before being bowled by medium-pace bowler Thisara Perera, who returned impressive figures of 4-44.
In reply, Sri Lanka were never in the big chase with South African bowlers getting wickets at regular intervals. A 95-run, seventh-wicket partnership between de Silva and Akila Dananjaya, who scored 37, raised Sri Lankan hopes of making a fist of their target.The fourth match is slated for Wednesday at Pallekele. —