Road Safety Series 2022: Jeevan Mendis flays SA Legends as SL maintain unbeaten run

Jeevan Mendis plays a shot against SA-Legends

Sri Lanka Legends’ bowlers consigned their South African counterparts to their second defeat of the 2022 Road Safety World Series. The win elevated the Lankans to the top of the table, eclipsing West Indies Legends with their unbeaten run.

SL Legends bowlers’ rearguard fightback ensures unbeaten streak stays on

Sri Lanka Legends lost in-form opener and captain Tillakaratne Dilshan within the second over of the match. The early setback was compensated by his partner Dilshan Munaweera, who staged a remarkable counter-attacking partnership with number three Upul Tharanga.

Star all-rounder Jeevan Mendis top scored in the innings with his unbeaten 43 and made sure his side reached a respectable 165 at the end. Among the Proteas’ bowlers, Garnett Kruger snared two wickets in his expensive four-over spell.

The South Africa Legends’ response was divided into two contrasting halves. They were in firm control of the match until the first 11 overs, wiping out 92 from their target while sustaining just two causalities.

A semi collapse ensued thereafter where they failed to keep up with the asking rate, thus tendering their confident start futile. The Jonty Rhodes-led side managed just another 62 off their remaining nine overs to fall 11 runs short of their target.

Mendis, who scored 43* with the bat, picked the breakthrough wicket as well and was fittingly adjudged as ‘Player of the Match’.

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka Legends: 165-6 (20)

Jeevan Mendis 43* (27), Upul Tharanga 36 (27)
Garnett Kruger 2-43, Johan Botha 1-18

South Africa Legends: 154-6 (20)

Morne van Wyk 76 (56), Alviro Petersen 22 (22)
Nuwan Kulasekara 2-33, Jeevan Mendis 1-18

Sri Lanka Legends won by 11 runs

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