South Africa v Sri Lanka, 2016-17
Wisden's review of the second ODI, South Africa v Sri Lanka, 2016-17
15-Apr-2017
At Durban, February 1, 2017 (day/night). South Africa won by 121 runs. Toss: Sri Lanka.
Tharanga erred by bowling first on a pitch that became more difficult for batting, but that was the least of Sri Lanka's problems. Top of the list was their bowlers' failure to stop du Plessis and Miller from scoring centuries in an innings in which no one else made more than 26. There was no mistaking du Plessis's alloy of grit and calm, but Miller showed his game had developed from its wham-bam beginnings, deflecting deliveries he would normally have tried to muscle over the boundary. While du Plessis, who was dropped at slip by Dhananjaya de Silva off Sandakan on 63, faced 120 balls in total, Miller needed only 98 for his unbeaten 117, and carted six sixes. Their fifth-wicket stand was worth 117. Then scintillating catches by du Plessis, leaping one-handed in the covers, and de Villiers, over his shoulder as he ran towards the boundary from mid-off, helped hurry Sri Lanka out inside 38 overs. Just as spectacular was Duminy's direct hit to account for Gunaratne, when he had only one stump to aim at from backward point. Sri Lanka had plenty of starts, but no finishers, with Imran Tahir's variations again proving tough to get away.
Man of the Match: F. du Plessis
Tharanga erred by bowling first on a pitch that became more difficult for batting, but that was the least of Sri Lanka's problems. Top of the list was their bowlers' failure to stop du Plessis and Miller from scoring centuries in an innings in which no one else made more than 26. There was no mistaking du Plessis's alloy of grit and calm, but Miller showed his game had developed from its wham-bam beginnings, deflecting deliveries he would normally have tried to muscle over the boundary. While du Plessis, who was dropped at slip by Dhananjaya de Silva off Sandakan on 63, faced 120 balls in total, Miller needed only 98 for his unbeaten 117, and carted six sixes. Their fifth-wicket stand was worth 117. Then scintillating catches by du Plessis, leaping one-handed in the covers, and de Villiers, over his shoulder as he ran towards the boundary from mid-off, helped hurry Sri Lanka out inside 38 overs. Just as spectacular was Duminy's direct hit to account for Gunaratne, when he had only one stump to aim at from backward point. Sri Lanka had plenty of starts, but no finishers, with Imran Tahir's variations again proving tough to get away.
Man of the Match: F. du Plessis