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Sri Lanka fight back to beat SA

Roshan Paul

South Africa frittered away a 150-run opening partnership, losing all their wickets for a mere 72 runs, as they succumbed to a fighting Sri Lankan outfit in the Singer tri-series on Thursday.

With this victory, Sri Lanka's road to the finals becomes a lot smoother. Conversely, Pakistan and South Africa will have to fight hard to get back into the tournament.

Sri Lanka made one change from Wednesday's match, bringing leg-spinning all-rounder Upul Chandana into the team instead of medium pacer Eric Upashantha.

Put into bat by new South African skipper Shaun Pollock, they got off to a disastrous start as captain Jayasuriya was run-out by a superb piece of fielding from Andrew Hall, off the second ball of the match. Things got even worse as the in-form Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene both snicked catches behind to Mark Boucher.

The two newcomers to the team, Avisha Gunawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, then set about to rebuild the Sri Lankan innings. After a 64-run partnership, the pacy Makhaya Ntini drew an edge from Gunawardene (47, 64b, 5x4) for Boucher to pick up his third catch of the innings.

Man-of-the-match Sangakkara (84, 115b, 11x4), who made an impressive debut against Pakistan yesterday, went from strength to strength as his confidence grew. Especially playing the pull shot well, he handled the five-pronged South African pace attack of Pollock, Hayward, Kallis, Ntini and Klusener with consummate ease. Russel Arnold joined him and the two left handers were involved in a delightful 120-run partnership in just 22 overs. It was this partnership that really brought Sri Lanka back into the match and enabled them to put up a competitive total.

Just when he was looking good for a maiden century, Sangakkara once again ran himself out. Arnold (60, 70b, 4x4) remained unbeaten as Sri Lanka finished with 249/7.

Kallis, with 3/42, was the most successful of the bowlers. However, he also bowled 8 wides and 2 no balls. The normally ultra-professional South Africans were clearly rusty after their lay-off from cricket and conceded 24 wides and 7 no balls in their 50 overs. Thus, in effect, Sri Lanka batted for 55 overs.

The South African openers' approach clearly was to play themselves in without taking any chances. They got off to a slow start but didn't look in any trouble as they gauged the pace and bounce of the pitch. Inevitably, the runs began to flow and Hall, in particular, began to get more aggressive. He swept the Sri Lankan spinners for three sixes over square leg and Jayasuriya began to get desperate as he tried seven bowlers in his search for the breakthrough.

Just when the South Africans seemed to be coasting to victory, Muralitharan's second spell did the trick. Gary Kirsten (59, 84b, 2x4) attempted yet another sweep but only got an inside edge onto his off stump. South Africa were 150/1.

Second spells proved to be lucky for the Sri Lankans. After going at seven an over in his first spell, Upul Chandana came back to bowl and immediately deceived Hall with his flight. Hall (81, 114b, 8x4, 3x6) spooned a simple return catch and thus began the rot.

Dharmasena too picked up a wicket in his second spell as South Africa slumped from 176/2 to 194/6. As the asking rate climbed above 7.5, Kallis and Cullinan both holed out in the deep. Jonty Rhodes edged the first ball he faced in his comeback match and Jayasuriya ran out Boucher.

As the pressure mounted, the Sri Lankans misfielded several times, often conceding overthrows. They knew that as long as Lance Klusener was at the crease, anything was possible, even an asking rate 10.33, which South Africa needed going into the last three overs. However, once Klusener was brilliantly run out by Sangakkara for 20, with South Africa needing 11 runs an over, the match was practically finished.

South Africa eventually were bowled out for 212, Sri Lanka winning by 37 runs; Chandana, with 4/44, turned out to be an inspired selectorial decision.

In the final analysis, however, it may be that the difference between the teams was all the extras South Africa conceded. Giving your opponents five extra overs to bat is suicidal in one-day cricket and South Africa paid dearly for their rustiness.

As South Africa gear up for their crucial fixture against Pakistan on Saturday, Sri Lanka can now enjoy a well-deserved three days break before they return to the field to play South Africa on Sunday.