(Cricket news) Sri Lanka have defeated South Africa 2-1 in the ODI series with a comfortable win in the 3rd and deciding match. Charith Asalanka was awarded the player of the series award for being the top scorer of the series with 196 runs. Proteas spinner Tabraiz Shamsi took the most wickets with 8 scalps to his name.
In the first ODI, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first. Opener Avishka Fernando scored a masterful 100 to help the Lankans put 300 on the board. South Africa fell 15 runs short of the target despite Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram knocks.
The Proteas bounced back in the 2nd ODI aided by the DLS method. After electing to bat first, South Africa scored 283 runs in 47 overs thanks to youngster Janneman Malan's century. Sri Lanka managed to score 197 in 43 overs courtesy of Tabraiz Shamsi's fifer as South Africa won the rain affected encounter.
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The decisive match, unlike the previous two, was a low scoring one. Sri Lanka elected to bat first after winning the toss. The Proteas spin trio of Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi and George Linde wrecked havoc as Sri Lanka could only manage 203 in their 50 overs. Debutant Maheesh Theekshana came through and took 5 wickets as Sri Lanka successfully defended the total to win the ODI series.
The 2 teams will now play a 3-match T20I series in preparation of the upcoming T20I World Cup. Faf Du Plessis is not a part of the squad while David Miller, Quinton de Kock and Lungi Ngidi return captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the series after suffering an injury.
