Sri Lanka crush SA by 180 runs
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Sri Lankan batsman Upul Tharanga (L) is watched by South
African wicketkeeper AB de Villiers as he plays a shot
during the first One Day International (ODI) match between
Sri Lanka and South Africa at the R. Premadasa Stadium in
Colombo on July 20, 2013. AFP |
 COLOMBO, July 20 (AFP) - Sri Lanka registered a smashing 180-run
victory over South Africa in the first match of their five-match One Day
International home series which began at Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
today. Kumar Sangakkara smashed his highest one-day score of 169 off 137
balls as Sri Lanka piled up 320-5.
The 35-year-old left-hander surpassed his previous best of 138 not
out against India in 2005 after the hosts were sent in to bat in the
first game of the five-match series against the Proteas.
Sangakkara’s 16th century in his 350th one-dayer steered Sri Lanka to
a commanding total after Tillakaratne Dilshan had fallen cheaply in the
fourth over, bowled by Chris Morris.
Sangakkara put on 70 for the second wicket with opener Upul Tharanga
(43), 74 for the third with Mahela Jayawardene (42) and 123 for the
fourth in which Lahiru Thirimanne’s contribution was just 17. The
veteran finally holed out in the deep in the penultimate over of the
innings, ending a scintillating innings that contained 18 boundaries and
six sixes. Fast bowler Morne Morkel, who recovered in time from a thigh
injury to play the match, was South Africa’s most impressive bowler with
2-34 from his 10 overs. But the inexperience of the depleted touring
squad told in the end as the Sri Lankans batted fluently on the slow
pitch. South Africa are without three frontline players -- fast bowler
Dale Steyn, all-rounder Jacques Kallis and former captain Graeme Smith
-- for the tour which also includes three Twenty20 matches.
Premier batsman Hashim Amla was unavailable for the first match due
to a strained neck.
SCOREBOARD
SRI LANKA
U. Tharanga b Morkel 43
T. Dilshan b Morris 10
K. Sangakkara c Duminy b Phangiso 169
M. Jayawardene c Ingram b Morkel 42
L. Thirimanne c Peterson b McLaren 17
T. Perera not out 16
D. Chandimal not out 01
Extras (b1, lb5, nb1, w15) 22
Total (for five wkts, 50 overs) 320
Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Dilshan), 2-93 (Tharanga)
3-167 (Jayawardene), 4-290 (Thirimanne)
5-303 (Sangakkara)
Bowling: Morkel 10-2-34-2 (w4)
Morris 9-0-80-1 (w6)
McLaren 10-0-69-1 (nb1, w2)
Peterson 5-0-30-0
Duminy 7-0-51-0 (w2)
Phangiso 9-0-50-1 (w1)
Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG), and Ranmore Martinesz (SRI) |
