South Africa v Sri Lanka, 2016-17
Wisden's review of the fourth ODI, South Africa v Sri Lanka, 2016-17
15-Apr-2017
At Cape Town, February 7, 2017 (day/night). South Africa won by 40 runs. Toss: South Africa.
Sri Lanka delivered their best performance of the series in a match that had no bearing on its outcome. That didn't seem likely when South Africa rattled up 367 for five, the highest total at Newlands (they had made 354 twice, against Kenya in 2001-02 and England in 2009-10) and, for all of three days, their highest against Sri Lanka (previously 339 for five at Hambantota in 2014). Du Plessis hit 185 - the second highest one-day score for South Africa, after Gary Kirsten's unbeaten 188 against the United Arab Emirates at Rawalpindi during the 1996 World Cup. After facing 141 balls, hitting 16 fours and three sixes, and sharing century stands with de Kock and de Villiers, du Plessis perished in the last over, trying to hit Madushanka down the ground. Sri Lanka's highest total of the series until now had been only one more than du Plessis managed here, yet they gave South Africa a scare. Dickwella and Tharanga began with 139 in 16 overs and, at 203 for one in the 28th, they were in the hunt. Tharanga fell for a 90-ball 119, including seven sixes - his first ODI hundred since July 2013 - and a maiden half-century from left-hander Sandun Weerakkody took them 307 for four in the 44th. Anything was possible. But Imran Tahir struck twice in the next, though - after proving unhittable in the first three games - he finished with the most expensive ten-over analysis of his ODI career. Parnell returned to mop up the tail, with Sri Lanka having restored at least a little pride.
Man of the Match: F. du Plessis.
Sri Lanka delivered their best performance of the series in a match that had no bearing on its outcome. That didn't seem likely when South Africa rattled up 367 for five, the highest total at Newlands (they had made 354 twice, against Kenya in 2001-02 and England in 2009-10) and, for all of three days, their highest against Sri Lanka (previously 339 for five at Hambantota in 2014). Du Plessis hit 185 - the second highest one-day score for South Africa, after Gary Kirsten's unbeaten 188 against the United Arab Emirates at Rawalpindi during the 1996 World Cup. After facing 141 balls, hitting 16 fours and three sixes, and sharing century stands with de Kock and de Villiers, du Plessis perished in the last over, trying to hit Madushanka down the ground. Sri Lanka's highest total of the series until now had been only one more than du Plessis managed here, yet they gave South Africa a scare. Dickwella and Tharanga began with 139 in 16 overs and, at 203 for one in the 28th, they were in the hunt. Tharanga fell for a 90-ball 119, including seven sixes - his first ODI hundred since July 2013 - and a maiden half-century from left-hander Sandun Weerakkody took them 307 for four in the 44th. Anything was possible. But Imran Tahir struck twice in the next, though - after proving unhittable in the first three games - he finished with the most expensive ten-over analysis of his ODI career. Parnell returned to mop up the tail, with Sri Lanka having restored at least a little pride.
Man of the Match: F. du Plessis.