The ICC Cricket World Cup Super League series between Sri Lanka and South Africa got underway yesterday. The R Premadasa Stadium played host to the opening encounter of this series. The home team won the toss and captain Dasun Shanaka elected to bat first.
The Sri Lankan cricket team got off to a decent start with openers Minod Bhanuka and Avishka Fernando adding 57 runs for the first wicket. South Africa bounced back by taking two quick wickets, but a 79-run third-wicket partnership between Fernando and Dhananjaya de Silva placed the Sri Lankan cricket team in a comfortable position.
While Keshav Maharaj dismissed de Silva, Fernando continued to trouble the South African bowlers and completed his century. The opening batsman ended with 118 runs from 115 deliveries, smashing ten fours and two maximums. Charith Asalanka supported him to perfection with a 62-ball 72. Asalanka stitched up a 97-run partnership with Fernando for the fourth wicket.
South Africa scalped wickets at regular intervals in the slog overs and restricted the home side to 300/9 in 50 overs. Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada picked up two wickets each for the South African cricket team. In reply, South Africa started well with Aiden Markram and Janneman Malan having a 49-run opening partnership. Markram aggregated 96 runs off 90 deliveries. Captain Temba Bavuma retired hurt after scoring 38 runs from 53 deliveries.
Rassie van der Dussen scored 59 runs at a strike rate of 100, while Heinrich Klaasen scored a 31-ball 36, but the South African cricket team could not win the match. South Africa scored 286/6 in 50 overs, losing by 14 runs.
Sri Lanka is in Top 8 of ICC Cricket World Cup Super League now
CWC SL Table pic.twitter.com/I3OmbP1f0S
— Behind Cricket (@behindCric8) September 3, 2021
Courtesy of their 14-run win against South Africa, Sri Lanka now holds the 8th rank in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League standings. The islanders have 32 points to their name from 13 matches.
Meanwhile, South Africa have slipped to the 11th position. The Proteas have 24 points from seven matches. The second ODI will begin tomorrow.
