South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI at East London, , Jan 14 2012 - Match Result

RESULT
2nd ODI, East London, January 14, 2012, Sri Lanka tour of South Africa
(48.4/50 ov, T:237) 237/5

South Africa won by 5 wickets (with 8 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
66* (87)
jean-paul-duminy
Match centre 
Scores: M Venkat Raghav | Comms: Nitin Sundar
Scorecard summary
Sri Lanka 236/6(50 overs)
South Africa 237/5(48.4 overs)

Sri Lanka have positives to take from this game, but that alone won't help unless they begin to turn the results around too. May be that will happen in Bloemfontein. On your way out, do have a read of Abhishek Purohit's match report, and we will soon have more analysis and stories from Firdose Moonda in East London. Until then, on behalf of the crew at ESPNcricinfo, this is Nitin Sundar signing off. Ta!

Duminy is the Man of the Match. "It was great to get a chance at No. 4. We wanted to be more flexible than we usually are. So between myself, AB and Faf we thought we will mix it up a bit and today was my chance. I enjoyed the bowling too, and hope to get 10 overs in sometime. We always knew we'll get there as long as we had wickets, and that's what happened. Just a bit of cramp up there in the end."

AB: "The toss didn't play a big part today. We played good cricket through out and I am very proud. We picked up wickets at crucial times, and Hash the Rock played really well. There would have been more pressure if they had got those 20-25 runs. Hash's wife is yet to give birth, but he will be there for it [and will mostly miss the next game]."

Dilshan: "We were 20-25 short in the batting. First 25 overs we didn't get enough runs. I got run out, this isn't a wicket where you can get run out [Whatever that means!]. At the moment, everything is going wrong for me. Hopefully the next match will be good. Tharanga and Chandimal batted really well, which is a positive sign for us."

"Kepler, please say something to srilankan team to motivate for their 3rd ODI," implores John.

Sri Lanka showed plenty of heart today, especially with the bat, after Dilshan and Sangakkara left them in avoidable strife upfront. But the bowling changes left a lot to be desired, and Malinga didn't have his best day with the ball. South Africa's biggest obstacle in the chase was South Africa, whom they managed to overcome and win with time to spare.

A word of appreciation to JP Duminy, who played the innings of the day. Just what was needed on a slow, stopping pitch, with the bowlers changing the pace all the time.

48.4
3
Dilshan to Morkel, 3 runs

The game ends. Dilshan looks to almost be in tears. Sanga has missed a run out. Sri Lanka's biggest names have messed up again, and South Africa are 2-0 up. Short and turning away from Albie, who places the cut well between the two men on either side of point. He didn't time it too well, and the fielder who ran back managed to stop it inside the rope. JP was cramping by the time he turned back for the third but went for it. Sanga had to collect and take the stumps off, but he couldn't collect cleanly. The throw wasn't poor at all. Dilshan is livid. Kirsten and the crew are all smiles.

48.3
2
Dilshan to Morkel, 2 runs

over-pitched on the stumps, Albie drives it back down the ground and times it pretty well. Long-on saves the boundary, but Albie has two more.

Over the stumps now.

48.2
Dilshan to Morkel, no run

Albie goes down on a knee and tries to dump Dilshan's flighted ball into the grass banks beyong cow corner, but misses. The ball lands outside off and spins away. Nerves!

48.1
Dilshan to Morkel, no run

flat ball outside off, Albie mistimes a push off the back foot, and it goes back to Dilshan.

Dilshan comes back on. I am not making this up.

end of over 484 runs
SA: 232/5CRR: 4.83 RRR: 2.50
Jean-Paul Duminy66 (87b 1x6)
Albie Morkel7 (7b 1x4)
Dhammika Prasad 10-0-46-3
Lasith Malinga 10-1-38-1
47.6
Prasad to Duminy, no run

short ball, JP is early on the pull and misses, but it angles away harmlessly.

47.5
Prasad to Duminy, no run

over-pitched outside off, JP absolutely kills the drive, but finds mid-off.

47.4
1
Prasad to Morkel, 1 run

low full tosses have been the order of the day. Here's another one, and Albie drives a single to the left of mid-off.

47.3
Prasad to Morkel, no run

back of a length, Albie covers the line and plays into the off side.

47.2
2
Prasad to Morkel, 2 runs

another effortlessly efficient clip off the pads from Albie and SA have two more.

Lasith's bowled out, so Sri Lanka's chances are quite bleak now.

47.1
1
Prasad to Duminy, 1 run

full length ball on the off stump, JP's taking singles everywhere. This time to long-off.

end of over 474 runs • 1 wicket
SA: 228/5CRR: 4.85 RRR: 3.00
Albie Morkel4 (4b 1x4)
Jean-Paul Duminy65 (84b 1x6)
Lasith Malinga 10-1-38-1
Dhammika Prasad 9-0-42-3
46.6
4
Malinga to Morkel, FOUR runs

ah well, just as I say that, he's missed a yorker by half a foot. Low full toss in Albie's slot and he whips four crucial runs to deep midwicket.

46.5
Malinga to Morkel, no run

that's probably the best yorker he's bowled today. nearly snaked under Albie's bat as he jammed down on it, but he managed to keep it out. Game not over folks.

46.4
Malinga to Morkel, no run

very low full toss at 136 kph, that seemed to swing in the air. Albie manages to keep it out, pushing it to mid-off from the crease.

46.3
Malinga to Morkel, no run

Malinga's dropped him first ball! Another full ball that came on slowly, Albie is early on the drive down the ground. It went low to Malinga this time and he couldn't grab, though he got both hands to it.

Albie comes in. SA are three strokes away from a win. SL five wickets.

46.2
W
Malinga to du Plessis, OUT

Faf's gone. Malinga is still not done with this game. The yorkers haven't worked today, but the slower balls are. Slow offcutter, stops on Faf who pats it right back after committing to the drive too early. Malinga takes the return catch well.

Faf du Plessis c & b Malinga 18 (16b 2x4 0x6 26m) SR: 112.5
46.1
Malinga to du Plessis, no run

angled into the pads, Faf tries to nudge with the angle but can't get it away.

end of over 464 runs
SA: 224/4CRR: 4.86 RRR: 3.25
Jean-Paul Duminy65 (84b 1x6)
Faf du Plessis18 (14b 2x4)
Dhammika Prasad 9-0-42-3
Lasith Malinga 9-1-34-0
45.6
Prasad to Duminy, no run

another slower ball, JP pushes it to mid-off who comes across quickly to field it.

45.5
Prasad to Duminy, no run

another slower ball, JP again misses the dab behind square on the off side.

45.4
1
Prasad to du Plessis, 1 run

Faf skips out of the crease, and slaps a short ball to the square leg area for a single.

45.3
1
Prasad to Duminy, 1 run

short of a length, that came in a touch as JP tried to dab square. Inside edge, flits away past the stumps.

Best performances - batters
Spike Graph
Wagon Zone
LD Chandimal
92 runs (115)
6 fours0 six
Productive shot
leg glance
48 runs
3 fours0 six
Control
81%
WU Tharanga
66 runs (85)
6 fours1 six
Productive shot
leg glance
24 runs
2 fours1 six
Control
87%
Best performances - bowlers
KTGD Prasad
O
10
M
0
R
46
W
3
ECO
4.6
LL Tsotsobe
O
10
M
2
R
43
W
2
ECO
4.3
Match details
Buffalo Park, East London
TossSouth Africa, elected to field first
Series
Season2011/12
Player Of The Match
Series resultSouth Africa led the 5-match series 2-0
Match numberODI no. 3226
Hours of play (local time)10.00 start, First Session 10.00-13.30, Interval 13.30-14.15, Second Session 14.15-17.45
Match days14 January 2012 - day (50-over match)
Umpires
TV Umpire
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee