SL win T20 series on De Villiers’ return

DICKWELLA WAS NAMED MAN OF THE MATCH AND MAN OF THE SERIES AFTER MAKING USEFUL CONTRIBUTIONS IN ALL THREE MATCHES.

CAPE TOWN: AB de Villiers hit a half-century on his return to international cricket, but it was not enough to prevent Sri Lanka from beating South Africa in the series-deciding third and final Twenty20 international at Newlands. De Villiers made 63 off 44 balls in a South African total of 169 for five but Sri Lanka won by five wickets with one ball to spare to regain some pride after being outplayed in a three-match Test series.

“I’m over the moon,” said stand-in Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal yesterday. “After losing the Test series, I’m really happy with the way we played.” Opening batsman Niroshan Dickwella made 68 off 51 balls before Seekkuge Prasanna clinched a 2-1 series win for the tourists by slamming an unbeaten 37 off 16 deliveries.

Dickwella was named man of the match and man of the series after making useful contributions in all three matches.

South Africa dropped five catches - including three off successive balls in one over from Wayne Parnell -- and were hampered by an injury to fast bowling discovery Lungi Ngidi,who left the field after bowling only two of his potential four overs. Sri Lanka, though, could take pride in overcoming the loss of injured captain Angelo Mathews, who played a match-winning innings to level the series in the second match last Sunday. JOHANNESBURG: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reprimanded South African leg spinner Imran Tahir for lifting his shirt which sported the image of Pakistan religious preacher Junaid Jamshed during a wicket celebration in the second T20 International at the Wanderers stadium.

After dismissing Sri Lankan batsman Asela Gunaratne, Tahir charged off into his typical celebratory sprints and then pulled his playing shirt over to reveal the image.

Jamshed was one of the victims of a Pakistan International Airlines plane crash en route to Islamabad in December.

Though there was no initial response from the ICC, but Tahir’s reaction quickly gained wide attention on social media since they have reprimanded him for a procedural breach under section G1 of their clothing which relates to displaying personal messages without approval.

“Players and team officials shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey messages through arm bands or other items affixed to clothing or equipment (”Personal Messages”) unless approved in advance by both the player or team official’s Board and the ICC Cricket Operations Department. Approval shall not be granted for messages which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes,? the regulation says.

The 37-year-old admitted the offence and accepted the sanction imposed by the ICC and hence there was no hearing.