South Africa thrashed Sri Lanka at the Oval, with Hashim Amla making a century and Imran Tahir picking up four wickets
Related: South Africa overwhelm Sri Lanka after Hashim Amla hundred creates platform
That’s it! Pradeep holes out off Tahir, who ends with terrific figures of four for 27. That’s an excellent win for South Africa. It’s not often you come from behind to win emphatically, but that’s exactly what they did. AB de Villiers’ majestic run out of Chandimal was the turning point, and after that Imran Tahir ran riot. South Africa’s next game is against Pakistan on Wednesday, then Sri Lanka meet India on Thursday. Thanks for your company, goodnight
41st over: Sri Lanka 203-9 (Perera 44, Pradeep 5) Perera blasts Rabada down the ground for four. He has quietly played a very good if futile innings.
40th over: Sri Lanka 194-9 (Perera 40, Pradeep 0) Perera breaks his bat, unnecessarily delaying my Saturday night by a couple more minutes as a result. I hate this part of a one-day game, when the game is over but not over. It’s like having to sit through half an hour of credits before you can leave the cinema.
39th over: Sri Lanka 192-9 (Perera 38, Pradeep 0)
What high standards @OfficialCSA maintain in the field .. even Imran Thahir is getting direct hits #SLvSA#CT17
It’s ending in a hurry. Malinga backs away to Rabada and drags the ball back onto the stumps.
38th over: Sri Lanka 192-8 (Perera 38, Malinga 1)
Oh dear. Lajmal drags Morris to mid-on and sets off. Perera sends him back, and Tahir - Tahir! - throws down the stumps at the batsman’s end.
Just when Sri Lanka thought they were back in, Morris pulls them out. He’s trapped Prasanna LBW with a wicket-to-wicket delivery that beat Prasanna’s attempted work to leg. Prasanna reviewed it, tactically as much as anything, bit it was hitting the top of middle and leg.
37th over: Sri Lanka 191-6 (Perera 38, Prasanna 13) Rabada’s bouncer is helped round the corner for four by Perera. This is stealthy stuff from Perera and Prasanna, which has given Sri Lanka a slight chance of nicking a victory. They need 109 from 13 overs.
36th over: Sri Lanka 186-6 (Perera 34, Prasanna 12) That’s more like it. Prasanna opens his shoulders, cracking Morris for a big six over midwicket. He follows up by sledging Morris, who is about a foot taller than him. Ten from the over, Sri Lanka’s best since that early assault.
35th over: Sri Lanka 176-6 (Perera 32, Prasanna 4) Rabada returns to the attack and concedes five singles. This is not the most thrilling end to a one-day match.
34th over: Sri Lanka 171-6 (Perera 29, Prasanna 3) Morris replaces Tahir, whose bowling has decided this match. Perera smacks a defiant pull through midwicket for four. He has 29 from 47 balls; Prasanna has two from 11.
33rd over: Sri Lanka 165-6 (Perera 23, Prasanna 3) Parnell completes a spell of two halves: 5-0-45-0 with the new ball, 5-0-9-0 with the old.
32nd over: Sri Lanka 165-6 (Perera 23, Prasanna 2) Perera pulls Tahir round the corner for his second boundary. Seven from the over.
31st over: Sri Lanka 158-6 (Perera 17, Prasanna 1) Perera has been left alone on the burning deck. Prasanna can biff the ball but I wouldn’t expect him to hang around for long, and there isn’t much after that.
“Afternoon, Rob,” says Jonathan Woods. “I’m actually at the Oval for today’s game but I’m such an avid OBO-er that I’m following on two fronts. Anyway, I’m sat in the front row (which is a new one) and I am in unfortunately close proximity to the speaker system. Without wanting to sound like a curmudgeon, has anybody’s matchday experience ever been improved by 15-second interludes of music every time there’s a break in play? If not, is anybody able to explain why this tradition started? My ears hurt.”
30th over: Sri Lanka 156-6 (Perera 15, Prasanna 1) Tahir has figures of three for 20. Breaking news: Adil Rashid will be recalled for England against New Zealand on Tuesday.
Imran Tahir is off on another lap of honour after taking his third wicket. Gunaratne, who was struggling to get going, had a bit of a desperate swipe that looped gently to Parnell at cover.
29th over: Sri Lanka 155-5 (Perera 15, Gunaratne 4) This is a much better spell from Parnell, aided by the fact he is no longer bowling to Dickwella. He’s bowled three overs for seven, and now Sri Lanka required almost seven an over.
28th over: Sri Lanka 151-5 (Perera 14, Gunaratne 2)
27th over: Sri Lanka 149-5 (Perera 13, Gunaratne 1) Even with 23 overs remaining, this feels like a formality. Two from Parnell’s over, which leaves Sri Lanka needing 151 from those 23 overs.
26th over: Sri Lanka 147-5 (Perera 12, Gunaratne 0) Tahir has figures of 5-0-16-2 and has changed the match. He almost picked up a third wicket, with Perera chipping just short of long off.
Tharanga has fallen to the superb Tahir. He lifted a googly high over the off side, and Miller ran in from the boundary to take a good sliding catch. That should be the match.
25th over: Sri Lanka 145-4 (Tharanga 57, Perera 10) Parnell replaces Duminy. He was very expensive early on, though that’s a lot better - two from the over, and the required rate has crept above six an over.
23rd over: Sri Lanka 143-4 (Tharanga 55, Perera 9) A long hop from Tahir is belted over midwicket for four by Tharanga. A better over for Sri Lanka, seven from it.
23rd over: Sri Lanka 136-4 (Tharanga 50, Perera 8) Perera sweeps a low full toss from Duminy for four, the first boundary for eight overs. Duminy is running back to his mark so that he can rush through, and there are no further runs from the over.
22nd over: Sri Lanka 132-4 (Tharanga 50, Perera 3) Tharanga slices Tahir airily through the covers for a couple, which brings up an excellent half-century from 59 balls.
21st over: Sri Lanka 127-4 (Tharanga 47, Perera 2) Spin at both ends, with JP Duminy replacing Morkel. He rushes through his first over at a cost of just three. The run-rate isn’t a problem for Sri Lanka, as they still need less than a run a ball; the loss of four wickets is a big problem.
Meanwhile, there is the not inconsiderable matter of India v Pakistan tomorrow, and we have baked some fresh prose for your delectation.
Related: Virat Kohli quells rift with Anil Kumble as India prepare for Pakistan
20th over: Sri Lanka 124-4 (Tharanga 46, Perera 1) Perera survives a big appeal for caught behind off a lovely googly from Tahir. South Africa considered the review before deciding against it. Hotspot suggests there was no edge. Another fine over from Tahir, who has completely changed the mood of this match.
19th over: Sri Lanka 123-4 (Tharanga 45, Perera 1) It makes sense for Morkel to continue, now that there are two left-handers at the crease. The No7 Gunaratne is a good player, but Sri Lanka don’t have much after that. This match will take a deal of winning.
18th over: Sri Lanka 117-4 (Tharanga 41, Perera 0) I would humbly suggest that Sri Lanka are in the malodorous stuff. After an abysmal start, South Africa have fought back splendidly with the ball and in the field. A fine first over from Imran Tahir: one run and two wickets, including the run-out.
Kapugedera goes first ball! Tahir put in a slip as a bluff and then skidded one through to hit the pad as Kapugedera worked across the line. It was plumb LBW.
Glorious fielding from AB de Villiers! Chandimal tried to steal a single off the new bowler Imran Tahir when the sliding de Villiers misfielded at extra cover. But he got straight to his feet, swooped on the ball and threw down the stumps while still off balance. The decision went upstairs and replays showed Chandimal was just short of his ground. That is a big wicket, both in its timing and manner.
17th over: Sri Lanka 116-2 (Tharanga 40, Chandimal 12) Morkel continues, though Tahir is starting to get loose. Chandimal flicks pleasantly into the leg side for a couple, with five from the over in total. Sri Lanka need 184 from 33 overs.
16th over: Sri Lanka 111-2 (Tharanga 39, Chandimal 8) Tharanga is going at more than a run a ball, 39 from 38 balls. He hasn’t had much of the strike. These two are Sri Lanka’s most experienced batsmen, so this is a very important partnership.
15th over: Sri Lanka 105-2 (Tharanga 35, Chandimal 8) Chandimal gets his first boundary, slamming a short one from Morkel through point. Four or five an over is all Sri Lanka need for the next hour or so, provided they don’t lose wickets.
14th over: Sri Lanka 100-2 (Tharanga 34, Chandimal 4) Morris slips one past Tharanga’s outside edge. The two tall guys, Morkel and Morris, have dragged South Africa back into this game, with just 13 runs coming from the last four overs. Sri Lanka have still brought up their hundred in great time, and they have 36 overs to get the remaining 200 runs. Time for drinks.
13th over: Sri Lanka 97-2 (Tharanga 33, Chandimal 2) “Disappointed? Get used to it,” writes
Theres- John Starbuck. “You’re a cricket journalist. Not darts either. The only pub game I was any good at was Spoof. I’m currently alternating between the OBO and Notts against Derbys. It looks like we’ve begun taking wickets again (thanks Samit). See this and wonder why so many other first-class counties don’t do the same.”
Crikey, yes, that’s excellent. It’s not Teletext though, is it.
12th over: Sri Lanka 95-2 (Tharanga 32, Chandimal 1) South Africa are back in this. The required rate is low, below five and a half, so wickets like that are vital.
Chris Morris replaces Wayne Parnell, who bowled five overs of dung, and strikes in his first over. Mendis chipped the ball towards short mid-on, where de Villiers extended a telescopic right arm to take a difficult catch with nonchalant ease.
Public service announcement
“Hi Rob,” says Joe Neate. “Once again a motley group of part-time OBO readers are heading off for our fifth year on a couple of jaunts to play cricket, one in Brighton in mid-August, and then across in Italy in mid-September. You can read about our previous exploits here and if you’re interested in turning out for us, any and all abilities are absolutely welcome. We also welcome umpires, scorers, spectators, or journalists (in order of importance). We’re also looking for a third team to join us for the Italy weekend. The tours are always AMAZING fun. It’s a great group of people, all games are played in the right spirit, and we always fit in a smidgen of something culture-y, as befitting a group of Guardian readers. It’s not all cricket and gin and tonics. Honest.”
11th over: Sri Lanka 91-1 (Tharanga 30, Mendis 10) Tharanga is turned round by Morkel and edges wide of slip for a single. Later in the over he’s beaten, trying to cut a ball that keeps slightly low. Morkel feels like a key man for South Africa, who are in reasonably urgent need of wickets.
10th over: Sri Lanka 87-1 (Tharanga 28, Mendis 8) Tharanga plays another beautiful cover-drive for four off Parnell, and then larrups a pull stroke wide of mid-on for yet another boundary. This really is exhilarating stuff. Sri Lanka need 213 from 40 overs.
9th over: Sri Lanka 77-1 (Tharanga 18, Mendis 8) The talented Kusal Mendis is the new batsman, and he gets off the mark with consecutive boundaries. The first was a withering pull stroke, the second a lovely, wristy flick over midwicket.
“Morning Rob,” says Phil Withall. “Many moons ago I met and fell in love with an Australian and moved over to the ‘Lucky country’. Since then I have been able to get tickets to Ashes Tests without the need of pesky, market driven plane tickets. He should, however, be aware of the downside to such moves. These include having to watch Australian television, lots of things that will kill you, a lack of coverage of Ryman league football, Rupert Murdoch owning everything and XXXX gold, a beer so disgusting it should be banned by some international treaty or other. On balance it’s possibly still worth it.”
Dickwella receives a massage and a banana between overs, presumably for cramp. He can now have a full Shiatsu massage if he wants, because he’s out. He launched into the new bowler Morne Morkel but could only slice the ball high to Parnell at third man. He played a cracking little innings, 41 from 33 balls.
8th over: Sri Lanka 68-0 (Dickwella 41, Tharanga 17) Tharanga times Parnell through extra cover for four, a gorgeous shot, and flogs the next ball over mid-on for four more! A Sri Lanka win would shatter the assumption that India and South Africa are in the semi-finals already. They are well on course at the moment; they need 232 from 42 overs.
7th over: Sri Lanka 58-0 (Dickwella 40, Tharanga 8) Dickwella must be bloody annoying to bowl at, with his unorthodox approach and relentless aggression. Rabada switches to around the wicket, so Dickwella belts consecutive deliveries over the legside for six and four! Tremendous stuff. The six was a mighty pick up over midwicket. Fifteen from the over!
“Coming late to this OBO because Andy Murray one again proves to be (spoiler alert!) the Last Brit Standing at Roland Garros, I suspect many other readers have done the same, which may be why Nick Miller didn’t get much correspondence,” says John Starbuck. “Printable stuff, anyway. A pity this game was up against that rival attraction, but I understand there’s some more football to come and perhaps even rugby, though I never bother with that and it doesn’t bother with me. No doubt there’ll be some tedious horse-racing too somewhere. Are there any rival sporting occasions for the later stages of this competition?”
6th over: Sri Lanka 43-0 (Dickwella 27, Tharanga 8) Dickwella carries on breezily, tickling Parnell to fine leg for four. He has 27 from 24 balls. Tharanga decides to join in the fun, pulling Parnell authoritatively for four. South Africa are having what is described in more banter-friendly cultures as a Weston Super.
“That was the worst attempt at a caught & bowled since I dropped my own hat-trick ball aged 11,” says Simon Thomas. “’Never mind’, I told myself, ‘I’ll get one soon’. Nope.... 36 seasons later and they don’t bowl me anymore.”
5th over: Sri Lanka 32-0 (Dickwella 24, Tharanga 4) Dickwella can play on the leg side too. He pings Rabada jauntily over midwicket for his fourth boundary - and then he is dropped. It was another return chance for the bowler Rabada, though this was a much tougher one down to his left. Rabada’s difficult start continues with a no-ball, which means the first free hit of the tournament; Tharanga can only drive it for a single.
“Andrew Benton poses an interesting conundrum,” says Bill Hargreaves. “And I’m sure it’s one playing on the minds of many readers. My advice would be to consult his erstwhile employees to ensure that he will be able to take those days off, or at least call in sick. If not, he might end up with a significant career change and not so much as a Test match hot dog to look back on.”
4th over: Sri Lanka 22-0 (Dickwella 17, Tharanga 3) Dickwella, again making room for a big off-side shot, edges Parnell high over the slips for four. He’s a little firecracker of an opener, who usually gets Sri Lanka off to a brisk start. After a sweet drive over point for four later in the over, he has 17 from 15 balls.
3rd over: Sri Lanka 10-0 (Dickwella 7, Tharanga 2) Rabada drops a sitter off his own bowling! Tharanga mishit a pull that went straight back to Rabada, and somehow he put it down. I wonder if he was beaten for lack of pace because it came back to him really slowly. Either way, it was such a dolly that I sincerely believe that even I would have had a 12 per cent chance of catching it. An excellent over from Rabada the bowler, if not Rabada the fielder, costs just one run.
2nd over: Sri Lanka 9-0 (Dickwella 7, Tharanga 2) The new ball will be shared by Mr Wayne Parnell. Dickwella has no qualms about showing his stumps and giving himself room to hit through the off side. He does it twice in that Parnell over: the first attempt hits the field, the second is launched over extra cover for the first boundary of the innings.
“Rob, I’d like some advice,” says Andrew Benton. “Should I apply for a job in Adelaide, in the hope that if I get it, I’d be able to go to the Ashes without buying a return ticket to Australia at those expensive Christmas and New Year prices? Thanks, erm, mate.”
1st over: Sri Lanka 3-0 (Dickwella 2, Tharanga 1) Kagiso Rabada, the No1 bowler in the ODI rankings, will start to Sri Lanka’s left-handed openers. Dickwella gives his fifth ball the charge and misses an attempted off-side biff. Three singles from the over.
Anyone out there? What shall we talk about today, the minutiae of this game aside?
Hello folks. Against most expectations, we might have a game on at the Oval. Sri Lanka were pulverised 5-0 in South Africa last winter but bowled excellently this morning to restrict them to 299 for six. A target of 300 is still tricky, especially as Sri Lanka are without Angelo Mathews and South Africa are with Kagiso Rabada, but they have a chance. And that’s all anyone wants in life.
That’ll do from me - over to Rob Smyth to bring you news of the Sri Lankan reply. Email Rob.Smyth@theGuardian.com.
Difficult to really know what to make of that. A pretty decent bowling effort from Sri Lanka, particularly Pradeep, and there were phases where South Africa seemed supremely bogged down. But ultimately 299 on a pitch that wasn’t especially good for big hitting will probably be enough. It will certainly take quite an effort from an under-strength Sri Lankan batting line-up to chase this down.
50th over: South Africa 299-6 (Duminy 38, Parnell 7) Duminy tries a lap sweep from the excellent Pradeep but misses, then has to nudge a single to point. Pradeep sends down a couple of wide yorkers to Parnell, one of which he misses, another he bunts for a single, then Duminy finally gets a boundary from one that doesn’t quite make the yorker and he drills it straight for four. Then, from the final ball, Pradeep overcompensates and sends down a full-toss, which Duminy plonks over wide long-on for six. So, in the end, a decent last over.
49th over: South Africa 287-6 (Duminy 27, Parnell 6) Parnell comes down the track and slaps a couple, badly timed, which allows them to come back for two. Malinga sends down a couple of slower balls that Parnells swings from his toes at, but misses both. Another slowie is almost chipped straight back to the bowler, then yet another - wider, this time - loops over point and drops in for a couple. Then a virtual action replay ends in a close call for a run-out, but Parnell was in. Six runs from the over, none of them especially convincing.
Incidentally, the Sri Lankan innings was supposed to start three minutes ago. Tharanga might find his match fee envelope a little light.
48th over: South Africa 281-6 (Duminy 27, Parnell 0) Duminy square drives the last ball of the over, and it goes straight through point and to the boundary. Unlucky for Pradeep - that was an excellent over.
The batsmen trade singles from the first four balls of a good Pradeep over, then Morris hits straight to Tharanga at cover and tries to dash through for another. But the Sri Lanka skipper collects, takes aim and calmly throws the stumps down with Morris having given up about 3/4 of the way down the pitch.
47th over: South Africa 273-5 (Duminy 21, Morris 18) Malinga starts with a wide, follows it with a solid yorker then sends down another wide. Not ideal. Morris then smears a shot straight back at Malinga which he sort of attempts to catch, but it probably would have taken his hands off and in the direction of Putney if he had. Both batsmen try big drives without much joy, so Duminy drops to one knee and scoops the ball over short fine-leg and to the boundary. Lovely touch.
46th over: South Africa 262-5 (Duminy 15, Morris 15) Duminy gets a boundary in a similar place to the one from the previous over, but this time not quite as deliberately - he drives, but only gets a toe-end on the ball and it scoots past the keeper and to the ropes. Duminy tries a couple of lap sweeps, which don’t really work, and three more runs - one a leg-bye, one a wide - come from the over.
45th over: South Africa 255-5 (Duminy 10, Morris 15) Malinga in again, and Morris plays a textbook cover drive wide of a diving mid-off and to the fence. A single, then Duminy plays a lovely shot as he opens the face and guides a full ball just wide of the diving wicketkeeper and to the boundary. Another single, and that’s 11 from another good over.
A slight oddly-paced innings from Hash, then.
Amla scored 13 off his first 27 balls (RR 2.88), 71 off his next 59 balls (RR 7.22) and 17 off his last 29 balls (RR 3.51). #CT17
44th over: South Africa 244-5 (Duminy 4, Morris 10) Lakmal flings down a short, wide one and Morris slaps it wide of third man and gets four. A couple more singles, then Lakmal again drops short, this time straighter, and Morris pulls him in front of square for another boundary. Ten from the over, which is probably what they need every over from this point.
43rd over: South Africa 234-5 (Duminy 3, Morris 1) South Africa really are making something of a balls of this, although the pitch doesn’t seem conducive to bit hitting. Morris, new man, shows a little intent but only gets a single. They’ll be lucky to get over 270-280 here.
Duminy plays a lap-sweep to get off the mark with a couple off Gunaratne. Then after a single, a calamity: Amla pushes into the leg side, completes one then dashes back for the second, but a full-length dive isn’t enough to get him there, and Dickwella whips the bails off after a good throw from Mendis. So far was he out, that umpire Dar gave him out on the field, rather than going upstairs.
42nd over: South Africa 228-4 (Amla 102, Duminy 0) Amla carves a couple down to third man, then new man JP Duminy almost manages to get himself run out as they think about a single, but decide against it.
Amla, on 99, wafts at one from the returning Lakmal outside off and both bowler and keeper go up, but there was daylight betwixt bat and ball there. No dice. Amla then tucks a single into the leg side to bring up his 25th ODI century - what a man. But then next ball Miller comes down the pitch, Lakmal drops a bit short and he plays a profoundly curious shot, trying to flick to square-leg but instead it flies off the outside edge, and it sails straight into the hands of Prasanna at third man.
41st over: South Africa 225-3 (Amla 99, Miller 18) Gunaratne has more than a whiff of New Zealand all-rounder of yore, Chris Harris about him. A dobber, and no mistake, but he’s keeping things tightish at the moment. Miller tries to sweep him, then Amla comes back for a spicy second after spotting the fielder in the deep is Malinga, who duly makes a rather ropy throw and they make it home in time. Only one more single comes, and that’s four from the over.
40th over: South Africa 221-3 (Amla 96, Miller 17) Here’s Malinga, who has four overs (including this one) remaining. Again, both batsmen are cool with singles - just two, this time - and Amla does well to dig out one of those special Malinga yorkers. Only nine runs from the last three overs.
39th over: South Africa 219-3 (Amla 95, Miller 16) Gunaratne continues with that leg-stump line to Amla, but the batsmen still seem to content to work him for singles. Five on them, to be exact.
38th over: South Africa 214-3 (Amla 92, Miller 14) Pradeep having a bit more joy than the spinner Prasanna. He beats Miller’s outside edge, then only concedes two singles from the remaining five balls.
37th over: South Africa 212-3 (Amla 91, Miller 13) Miller is off, now: he charges Prasanna and absolutely brutalises a straight drive that probably didn’t get much higher than about 12ft, but thudded into the advertising boards. Four other singles from the over.
36th over: South Africa 202-3 (Amla 89, Miller 5) Good bowling from Pradeep, who beats Miller’s outside edge then nearly takes his head off with a rapid bouncer. 200 comes up with a quick single into the covers for Miller, then Pradeep tries another bumper to Amla, but that one is judged too high - seemed a smidge harsh.
35th over: South Africa 198-3 (Amla 87, Miller 4) No messing from new man David Miller, who drives very nicely straight down the ground for four, from his first ball. Still, a good couple of overs for Sri Lanka, ridding themselves of de Villiers and du Plessis in successive overs.
Oh. Well. OK. De Villiers tries to go big straight away, but gets a massive leading edge to an attempted whip through mid-wicket, and it gently loops up into the waiting hands of Kapugedara, waiting at mid-off.
34th over: South Africa 190-2 (Amla 86, de Villiers 1) Good news and bad news, Sri Lanka. Sure, you’ve taken the wicket which is nice, but here’s AB de Villiers. He tries to get going straight away, but there’s only a single to be had from a firm shot through the covers.
Du Plessis starts to put the foot down. Pradeep serves up a wide one which he carves over point and to the boundary, but the next ball is a straighter one, which he tries to pull in front of mid-wicket, but doesn’t get enough on it and the fielder at the edge of the circle takes a smart catch.
33rd over: South Africa 183-1 (Amla 85, du Plessis 70) Du Plessis tries to go big with a slog-sweep off Prasanna but doesn’t get enough of it, and only gets a single for his trouble. Four runs from the over, which is quite the result for Sri Lanka.
32nd over: South Africa 179-1 (Amla 83, du Plessis 68) Sheesh, what a shot. Gunaratne continues that around the wicket line to Amla, which is OK expect when he floats up a leg-stump half-volley, which Amla duly flicks with casual power over square leg and to the boundary.
31st over: South Africa 171-1 (Amla 77, du Plessis 66) Lovely shot from du Plessis, opening himself up and driving between cover and mid-off to the boundary off Prasanna. He then plays one of those slightly weird, almost back-foot cover drives from a full ball, but can’t pierce the infield. Still, eight runs from the over.
30th over: South Africa 163-1 (Amla 76, du Plessis 59) First real sign of any problems for Amla in ages, as he gets a leading edge to one off Gunaratne as he tries to flick through mid-wicket. Another six drama-free runs, but you wonder when they’re going to set loose...
It's time for one of these two to go hard to push on for 330 ish. Loads of batting to come.
29th over: South Africa 157-1 (Amla 72, du Plessis 57) Du Plessis doesn’t get all of a pull out to mid-wicket, but still manages a couple of runs. Then he skips down the track and tries to put the ball in the Thames, but completely misses and in the end is lucky not to get an outside edge. A few more runs come, but then Lakmal beats an attempted late dab outside off from du Plessis - six from the over, and at this stage Sri Lanka might regard that as a decent result.
28th over: South Africa 151-1 (Amla 71, du Plessis 52) Du Plessis reaches his fifty off a Gunaratne ball that he whips off middle stump. Five more singles from the over, as South Africa set themselves up very nicely for what will presumably be quite a spicy last 20 overs.
27th over: South Africa 145-1 (Amla 68, du Plessis 49) Lakmal is brought back by Thuranga, and is welcomed by a brutal du Plessis pull that in front of mid-wicket which goes for four. Lakmal goes short a couple more times, and is lucky to get away without conceding any further boundaries to both du Plessis and Amla. Slightly odd tactic on a pitch that is less than zippy. 100 partnership comes up.
26th over: South Africa 136-1 (Amla 67, du Plessis 41) Everyone is nice and hydrated, and now Gunaratne is back into the attack. Some hard running brings two for du Plessis, down to deep square leg. Another four singles from the over.
Also, have we all heard Arcade Fire’s new one? It sounds like ABBA, and I could not possibly be more delighted.
While the players take a drink at the Oval, let’s have a look at how yesterday went. Ali Martin’s report from Australia v New Zealand at Edgbaston is here...
Related: 'We got away with one,' admits Smith after rain halts NZ against Australia
Related: Australia’s pace bowling storm subdued by New Zealand and Edgbaston hoodoo | Andy Bull
25th over: South Africa 130-1 (Amla 65, du Plessis 37) Malinga loses a slower ball which loops down leg for a wide, but he does also manage to beat du Plessis’s outside edge as he goes for a late dab. Five from the over.
24th over: South Africa 125-1 (Amla 63, du Plessis 35) Du Plessis drags a sweep from outside off in front of square on the leg side, and gets a boundary for his efforts. Then after a single, Amla sprints down the pitch and absolutely launches Prasanna over wide long-on for six. Think we can say he’s in, now.
23rd over: South Africa 114-1 (Amla 57, du Plessis 30) Malinga returns to the attack, and drifts into Amla’s pads, a line he takes advantage of by flipping the ball past short fine leg and down to the boundary. Amla takes three more, then Gunaratne produces a fine bit of fielding in that fine leg position, saving a du Plessis pull that could quite easily have gone down to the boundary.
22nd over: South Africa 106-1 (Amla 50, du Plessis 29) Amla plays a slightly odd shot, rocking back and trying to launch one over mid-wicket, but doesn’t really time it properly and it goes high, but not very far, drops before the boundary and they only get two. Prasanna then drops short outside off, and Amla cuts through the hands of the man at point, out to the ropes, then a single brings up the great man’s half century.
21st over: South Africa 97-1 (Amla 42, du Plessis 28) Smart running turns a single into a couple for du Plessis as Malinga is a little sluggish in getting to the ball. This stage of an innings is never thrillingly entertaining, but South Africa take seven runs from the over with nary a hint of mither.
20th over: South Africa 90-1 (Amla 39, du Plessis 24) Rapid-fire Prasanna continues, and is pushed all around the ground for three singles first up, then du Plessis sweeps expertly behind square for four. Two more singles, and that’s nine from the over.
19th over: South Africa 81-1 (Amla 36, du Plessis 18) Gunaratne returns, replacing Pradeep, and is round the wicket to the right handers again. Du Plessis uses his wrists to send a few singles around, then Amla decides to sod this for a game o’ soldiers, clears the old front leg and launches a floater from Gunaratne over the long-off fence. First six of the innings, and South Africa are making much lighter work of this slightly tricky pitch now.
18th over: South Africa 70-1 (Amla 26, du Plessis 17) Prasanna rattles through another over, the only significant shot coming from a du Plessis back-foot push that garners two runs out to wide deep cover.
17th over: South Africa 67-1 (Amla 25, du Plessis 15) Oh Lasith. Oh, mate, Lasith. Du Plessis comes down the pitch, Pradeep goes short and he tries an absolutely horrible hook which goes miles in the air, down to fine leg. Malinga is there, and has an abysmal time judging the flight, the breeze presumably taking it all over the place, Malinga steps back onto the boundary rope before realising that he’s make a fluff of it, then dives forwards but drops the catch. Actually, ‘drops’ implies he had it at all - it just hit his fingers on its way to the turf. They take two runs from it, there’s a couple more singles then du Plessis plays a much better, more controlled shot to guide an intentional outside-edge past slip and to the boundary for four.
16th over: South Africa 59-1 (Amla 24, du Plessis 8) Has Prasanna got the shortest run-up in international cricket? He starts about half a yard off the cut strip, and must only take five paces before reaching the crease. Amla is nearly done by one that goes straight on, playing for the turn but misjudging it and escaping with an inside edge. Four runs from the over, all singles.
15th over: South Africa 55-1 (Amla 22, du Plessis 6) After everyone has a drink, du Plessis clips a couple through square-leg. Then a few balls later he repeats the trick, this time with some smart and rapid running to turn what initially looked like a single into a brace.
14th over: South Africa 51-1 (Amla 22, du Plessis 2) Some spin now, as Prasanna is on from the Pavilion End. There’s a wide down leg, then a short, wide one outside off that Amla slices expertly down to the third man fence.
13th over: South Africa 45-1 (Amla 18, du Plessis 1) Faf’s in, and he plays out the remainder of the over carefully, one delivery nipping back at him and taking him on the thigh pad. He gets off the mark from the final ball of the over.
Beautiful delivery from Pradeep, moving away just enough but de Kock’s effort to run it off the face goes awry, and he nicks through to the keeper.
12th over: South Africa 44-0 (Amla 18, de Kock 23) Bowling change - Gunaratne replaces Lakmal, and starts to de Kock with a smashing knuckleball thing that flummoxes the batsman and he’s nearly stumped. The next delivery is sent out to the third man fence for a couple, then a single, and interestingly Gunaratne stays round the wicket to righty Amla. Amla goes right back and pushes a single towards fine leg, de Kock gets another and South Africa are at least keeping the board ticking now.
11th over: South Africa 39-0 (Amla 17, de Kock 19) Pradeep throws down a lovely bumper that de Kock does pretty well to get out of the way of, but a fuller ball is then chopped down to third man for a pair of runs. Then a straighter one is efficiently slapped wide of mid-on for four - a few signs of the de Kock and Amla we’re used to here. Another single, and that’s the most productive over of the innings so far - seven from it.
10th over: South Africa 32-0 (Amla 17, de Kock 12) Lakmal is still on, and Amla tries to open the face and send it past point, but Kapugedara produces a brilliant diving stop that wins him pats on various parts of his body from at least five teammates. Then Amla find the boundary for the first time with a delicious shot, flicking the ball with that magnificent ease of his over mid-wicket and it skips away to the ropes. Or the cushiony pad things. Whatever they’re called.
9th over: South Africa 28-0 (Amla 13, de Kock 12) A bowling change: Malinga has a blow, and Nuwan Pradeep is into the attack. Amla can’t do much of use with the first three balls, then gets a single with a fairly unconvincing thick inside-edge to mid-on. Looks like timing on this pitch is a pain. Just that single from the over, and the batsmen convene in the middle of the pitch to look at it in a deeply accusatory manner.
8th over: South Africa 27-0 (Amla 12, de Kock 12) Lakmal continues, then beats Amla with an absolute peach of a ball, a McGrathian away nipper that moves just enough to zoot past the outside edge. Three more singles from the over, but that’s still another smashing over for Sri Lanka. Might have to further revise down what will constitute a defendable score on this pitch.
7th over: South Africa 24-0 (Amla 10, de Kock 11) A boundary! De Kock waits for a Malinga slower one, then slaps it in entirely unconvincing fashion through point, in the air, but it skips off that massive square and away for four. Next ball is another slowie, which de Kock this time misses, playing an odd across the line shot. De Kock gets a single, then Amla pushes off the back foot and races through for another, but puts in a profoundly curious slide - not bat/head first as is regulation, but sort of sideways, like when someone slides to get under a closing door in a film. He makes it, anyway.
6th over: South Africa 18-0 (Amla 9, de Kock 6) De Kock again takes a step down the track and whips one from about a middle-off line, but still only manages a single, then Amla pushes a shot down past mid-on and collects a couple. Lakmal sends a couple of short, wides ones to de Kock, the first he sort of half-heartedly slaps to cover, the second is called a wide. Then de Kock almost gets himself in a frightful mess coming down the track, on one leg, and he inside edges not far past the stumps. This could just be a particularly tacky pitch, making it tricky to get the ball off the square - it absolutely hosed down twice in south London yesterday, so there’s probably still a good amount of moisture in the turf.
5th over: South Africa 12-0 (Amla 6, de Kock 4) There’s at least one trumpeter in the crowd and it sounds...how to say... ‘discordant’. Or completely out of tune. De Kock tries to force the matter by walking at Malinga, which doesn’t work, but he does manage a single with a neat dab down to third man. That’s the only run from the over, and South Africa have started in conservative fashion.
4th over: South Africa 11-0 (Amla 6, de Kock 3) De Kock isn’t in the best nick, from the early evidence. Lakmal gives him a longish hop that he’d usually welt to the boundary, but he misses and for a second it looked like a hint of an under-edge. He pushes a single on the walk to mid-off, then Amla flicks one straight to mid-wicket, bouncing a few feet in front of the fielder there. Good start for Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Amod ‘Grumpy Wumpy Pants’ Paranjape isn’t really getting into the spirit of the whole ‘tell us about someone doing something nice’ vibe: “Focus on the Cricket mate. What nonsense. Trump is nice to the world.”
Pitched in line, hitting in line, but ball tracker says it was clipping the off bail - umpire’s call, so it’s not out.
Lakmal gets one to thud into de Kock’s pads from over the wicket, just above the knee roll. An enthusiastic appeal ensues, the umpire says no, but they’re going upstairs...
3rd over: South Africa 10-0 (Amla 6, de Kock 2) Amla flexes those wrists and flips a single just in front of square, then de Kock gets off the mark with a considered push to mid-off. Malinga gets one to rise a bit at Amla but the great man does pretty well to ride it and takes a single to third man.
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2nd over: South Africa 6-0 (Amla 4, de Kock 0) Lakmal, looking like the drummer in an acid jazz band, will be first up from the Pavilion End. There’s a spot of away shape but not much pace - his first ball is left by Amla but bounces a couple of times before it reaches the keeper. Amla then slots a push off about middle stump between two fielders, and it pleasantly ambles most of the way to the boundary and they come back for three. De Kock is either being watchful or hasn’t quite got his eye in yet, carefully prodding at his first few deliveries - a low-key couple of overs to start.
1st over: South Africa 3-0 (Amla 1, de Kock 0) Amla notches his first run with a neat push off his pads to square-leg. Malinga stays over the wicket to leftie de Kock, but hoys a couple down the leg side for a pair of wides - not big ones, but wides seem to be fairly binary. Malinga keeps it all pitched up and even throws in a slower ball, but de Kock is perfectly happy to pat most of his deliveries back down the pitch.
And we’re away, Lasith Malinga opening the bowling, and big Hash Amla faces first for the Saffers.
“Morning Nick,” greets a sunny Jonathan Salisbury, who has some Nice News to share. “Nice to see a couple of the South Africans chatting to the kid mascots on the way out...”
That’s nice. It’s nice to be nice. Has anyone been nice to you in a relatively minor way, that they didn’t have to be recently? Nick.Miller@theGuardian.com
That spider cam thing, like some sort of stringy manifestation of a police state in sport, swoops down and zooms in on the players as they sing their respective national anthems. South Africa all solemn pomp, Sri Lanka like a jaunty contribution to a Tim Burton film.
The consensus seems to be that this track, a couple down from the one England and Bangladesh rattled up 600-odd runs on the other day, won’t be quite as conducive to batting. 280 or so might be a decent score.
Tharanga, Dickwella, Medis, Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Kapugedera, Gunaratne, Malinga, Prasanna, Lakmal, Pradeep, Malinga
Upul Tharanga was the man who tossed the coin for Sri Lanka, so that’ll tell you that Angelo Mathews hasn’t made it, his twanged calf proving too twangy to play.
Interesting call. Bit of cloud cover over south London which is forecast to clear later, perhaps that’s the reason.
Theoretically, this shouldn’t be an especially close contest. Sri Lanka are in what we’ll call a ‘transitional’ phase, their only real, proper, established class batsman being Angelo Mathews, who might not even play today due to a calf twang. Lasith Malinga is back, more of him than ever, but beyond those two and the frequently maddening Upul Tharanga and one-time ODI top dog bowlers Nuwan Kulasekara, there isn’t a massive amount in their team one would hang one’s hat on. Suranga Lakmal is actually their highest-ranked bowler and Kusal Mendis seems promising, but the way they collapsed like a flan in a cupboard in English conditions last year, doesn’t fill one with confidence.
Not so in the South Africa team, mind. Their top four of Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers is enough to make any red-blooded cricket fan rub their knees like Vic Reeves when an alluring lady was on Shooting Stars (which looking back was massively creepy, at best), while Kagiso Rabada is most definitely The Real Thing. And then there’s Imran Tahir, who an hour before the start of play is already wildly celebrating his first wicket.
Nick will be here soon.
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