And it's all over! Dilshan plays a lofted sweep shot behind square from a delivery that was pitched full and just outside off. He times it well enough to heave it over fine leg for a six which ends the contest and gives the Sri Lankans a six-wicket win, with 11 balls to spare. What a fabulous knock from Dilshan!
Sri Lanka vs South Africa, 3rd T20I at Hambantota, Aug 06 2013 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
3rd T20I (N), Hambantota, August 06, 2013, South Africa tour of Sri Lanka
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163/3
(18.1/20 ov, T:164) 164/4
Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets (with 11 balls remaining)
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SL
Full commentary
So South Africa are unable to complete the 3-0 series whitewash, as Dilshan, and Jayawardene before him, simply batted them out of today's contest with a wonderful display of hitting all over the wicket. The South Africans will still be pleased with their performance over the last week, and can take heart from it after being drubbed 4-1 in the ODI series before
Hifaz: "Dilshan has the capacity to end the game fluently"
Janaka: "Thank God Thirimanne didnt bat today. Sri Lanka cannot let both Chandimal and Thirimanne bat and win !"
Tsotsobe, Morkel and Parnell were hit all over the park, while Tahir and Wise bowled strong spells which helped the South Africans back into the contest, when it seemed only a matter of which over the Sri Lankans would finish off the game. Please do stick around just a bit longer for the match presentation.
sanjaya: "Chandimal, Thirimanne and Mathews all are not T20 Players, they are ODI and Test Players, they are laggers. try new players, like Dilshan Munaweera and Akhila Dananjaya, Bhanuka, etc FInally due to some beatiful hitting by Iron man Perera and superb batting by dili and Mayya, SL wins.Thanks All of you!!"
Vigi: "What a shot to play against Morkel. Swept him for six!! In Dilly we believe!"
Time for the match presentation
And Tillakaratne Dilshan wins Man of the Match!
Tillakaratne Dilshan: It's not an easy target to chase. We had to take our chances for six overs. Mahela and I had the best start in the series. We gave a fantastic start and momentum. I know I had to play dilscoop so it got bowlers thinking about how to bowl. It has worked for me last few years so I wanted them to think twice before bowling to me. We knew we could pass this total, especially after our start in the first six overs. I didn't panic, I know Tahir bowled well so I couldn't take a chance with him, but with the other bowlers it was a difficult pitch to bowl on, so I could take my chances
Dinesh Chandimal: I am really happy. Guys did really well. Especially the bowling part as we kept them to 160. Mahela and Dilshan batted really well to give us a good start, and then Thisara playing a cameo to help us get there in the end. In previous games we didn't bat well which is why we lost the game. But in this game we batted well so we are feeling good. They (SA) played some really good cricket throughout this series. They gave us a lot of good challenges.
And JP Duminy is Man of the Series with his 135 runs and 3 wickets
JP Duminy: Yes it's been going pretty well. i wasn't really needed to bowl in these last two games. It's unfortunate the Sri Lankans came out firing today. Been working hard on the nets, trying not to over hit the ball as the bats are really big today and just need to time it well. Really enjoyed playing in Sri Lanka, and happy to have won a series here
Faf du Plessis: That's a big trophy to take back on the plane. All in all we are really happy to beat the best team in the world. I thought 163 was enough, got to give credit to Dilshan. Our plans were not as good in this game as in the other two games. Happy to beat the best in the world, the World Cup is not too far away and we did it in conditions that are similar to Bangladesh. Thanks to the crowd for their support.
So although South Africa lost today, and were unable to complete a whitewash, they will be happy to not only have competed, but beaten Sri Lanka, the world's number one ranked T20 team, in their home conditions. Dilshan played a blinder of an innings, but if you are a Sri Lankan fan, you will certainly feel it was all a little too late. Thank you for choosing ESPNcricinfo as your destination to get up-to-the-minute scores and news. It has been a pleasure to take you through Sri Lanka's innings. For now, this is Rohan Sharma saying good night and good luck!
18.1
6
Morkel to Dilshan, SIX runs
end of over 1821 runs
SL: 158/4CRR: 8.77 • RRR: 3.00
Thisara Perera25 (11b 3x4 1x6)
Tillakaratne Dilshan68 (50b 9x4 1x6)
Wayne Parnell 3-0-37-1
Morne Morkel 3-0-27-0
17.6
2
Parnell to Perera, 2 runs
full and on off, Perera drills it back past the bowler, gets back for the second run. 21 runs from the over, making it the most expensive of the series
17.6
1w
Parnell to Perera, 1 wide
Parnell bangs one short, but it is a bit too high, wide called
17.5
4
Parnell to Perera, FOUR runs
length ball outside off and Perera able to chip this over the covers for a boundary behind square that just beats the fielder
17.4
4
Parnell to Perera, FOUR runs
full and wide again from Parnell and Perera is doing the deed as he reaches out again and hits this through extra-cover, beating the boundary rider who is running in from a squarish deep cover position
17.3
6
Parnell to Perera, SIX runs
length ball on off stump and Perera waits on the back foot before hitting a huge blow over Duminy at long on for a six. Sri Lanka now need 17 off 15
17.2
4
Parnell to Perera, FOUR runs
full and wide and Perera has to reach for it in order to make a good connection as the ball flies through extra cover for a boundary
17.1
•
Parnell to Perera, no run
slower ball outside off and Perera, looking to play an improvised dilscoop over fine leg, is unable to get it off
27 now off 18 balls. South Africa have done well to come back into this contest
Parnell has been brought back into the attack
Faf taking his time to get his fielders in the right position. Duminy at long on. Davids in the deep
end of over 1711 runs
SL: 137/4CRR: 8.05 • RRR: 9.00
Thisara Perera5 (5b)
Tillakaratne Dilshan68 (50b 9x4 1x6)
Morne Morkel 3-0-27-0
David Wiese 4-0-24-2
16.6
1
Morkel to Perera, 1 run
tad fuller and on off, Perera moves across and flicks it to long on for a single
16.5
3
Morkel to Dilshan, 3 runs
fuller length pitching outside off stump and Dilshan waits on the back foot before heaving this to deep mid wicket. De Villiers, stationed there, bobbles the return as the pair are able to complete three runs
16.4
4
Morkel to Dilshan, FOUR runs
full toss on off stump and Dilshan waits on it before helping it on its way behind square for a boundary. Square leg had been brought up so that helped make this shot possible
James: "Great spells form Wiese and Tahir have dragged SA back into this game."
16.3
1
Morkel to Perera, 1 run
back of a length angling towards the slips. Perera works this to deep midwicket
Aman SM: "Not watching the match,but going by the cricinfo profie, has South Africa found the solution to their problem in David Wiese,the moustache man"
16.2
1
Morkel to Dilshan, 1 run
back of a length outside off and Dilshan tries to hammer this through midwicket, but doesn't time it well enough. Dilshan now has the highest score by a Sri Lankan against South Africa in a T20I
16.1
1
Morkel to Perera, 1 run
back of a length on middle and leg. Perera nudges this to the leg side for a single. Dilshan wants the strike
SL need 38 off 24balls now.. Looks set up for a gripping finale
nitin: "Dilshan is still the key for both SL and SA."
Morkel replacing Tahir
end of over 168 runs • 1 wicket
SL: 126/4CRR: 7.87 • RRR: 9.50
Thisara Perera2 (2b)
Tillakaratne Dilshan60 (47b 8x4 1x6)
David Wiese 4-0-24-2
Imran Tahir 4-0-20-1
15.6
1
Wiese to Perera, 1 run
full delivery just outside off and Perera drives this straight down the ground for a single
15.5
1
Wiese to Dilshan, 1 run
full delivery on leg and Dilshan able to clip this to midwicket
15.4
1
Wiese to Perera, 1 run
fuller delivery, wide of off stump. Perera times this beautifully to long off to get off the mark
Thisara Perera is the new bat for Sri Lanka. Time for some power hitting perhaps?
Mehtab: "Can someone tell me where is Duminy tonight?"
15.3
W
Wiese to Angelo Mathews, OUT
length ball on middle and Mathews, looking to work this to the leg side, but the ball ends up hitting the bottom-edge of the bat and drags on to the stumps. Quite an innocuous way to get out
Angelo Mathews b Wiese 14 (10b 2x4 0x6 11m) SR: 140
15.2
4
Wiese to Angelo Mathews, FOUR runs
wide delivery outside off and Mathews waits on it before dispatching it behind square on the off side for a boundary
Saul: "Gotta wonder what Faf was thinking bowling all 4 of Lopsy's overs. Maybe he wanted to keep him away from fielding, so he wouldn't drop any more catches?"
15.1
1
Wiese to Dilshan, 1 run
full delivery on the pads and Dilshan works it behind square
Into the final five overs... SL need 46 off 30
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