SL vs SA | Debutant Maheesh Theekshana, Chameera’s all-round show help Sri Lanka win ODI series

It was a splendid show of spin bowling by Sri Lanka as they not only defended 203 but bowled out their opposition South Africa for their second-lowest ODI total- 125 to win the third and final ODI of the three-match series by a whopping 78 runs and thereby lift the series 2-1.

With this win, not only did Sri Lanka end a series win drought dating back to their last four series and March 2020, but also moved to fifth place in the ICC ODI Super League, the qualifying tournament for the 2023 ODI World Cup. Prior to the start of the series, they were not even in the top 10 of the table.

Debutante Maheesh Theekshana was the hero with the ball for Sri Lanka, picking four crucial wickets which helped them build pressure and eventually win the game. The 21-year-old took a wicket with his very first ball in international cricket, becoming only the fourth Sri Lankan to do so after he got South African opener Janneman Malan caught in the slip by Dhananjaya de Silva.

Soon, the right arm off-spinner or right arm all sorts as the commentators called him because of his ability to ball carrom ball as well as a top spinner, was all over the Proteas bowling lineup, getting the dangerman Heinrich Klaasen out to almost nip all chances of even a shy at the victory of for the visitors.

Theekshana then came back once again to pick up the last two wickets in Kagiso Rabada and opposition captain Keshav Maharaj to send South Africa packing as well to bag the best figures for a Sri Lankan spinner on debut. He ended the match with figures of 4-37. The previous best for a Sri Lankan spinner was 3-15 by Wanindu Hasaranga on his debut against Zimbabwe in 2017.

Dushmantha Chameera who scored a brilliant 29 off 39 balls to get Sri Lanka to 203 in the first innings started brilliantly with the ball as well, removing Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen to pave the way for the spinners.

Earlier in the day, having won the toss, Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka decided to bat first. The decision was not at all validated by his batters as the team fell down to 121-6 in the 26th over itself. Had it not been for a patient Charith Asalanka who scored 47 and build up crucial partnerships with Chamika Karunaratne and Chameera, Sri Lanka might have been struggling to get past even 150.

Maharaj picked up three wickets for the Proteas as their spinners bowled 40 off the 50 overs. In the end, they got to 203 courtesy 14 extras and some sensible batting by the tailenders who did not throw their wickets away.

The two teams will now face each other in a three-match T20I series starting September 10 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

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CPL 2021 | BR vs GAW: From here on, Barbados can’t afford to lose, but can they break their three-match losing streak?

The Barbados Royals have reached a position from where only wins could take them to the Semi-Finals of the Caribbean Premier League 2021. The men in blue have lost five of their six games and stand at the bottom of the points table. They have lost the last three of their games and hence only wins are the way out and they would have to start doing that from their next game which is against Guyana Amazon Warriors. The Warriors on the other end have not looked their usual self either, losing three of their six games and languishing in the middle of the table. Nicholas Pooran has looked in good form but hasn’t been consistent. The same has been the problem with most of his teammates, be it Romario Shepherd, Mohammad Hafeez or Shimron Hetmyer. Thus two teams, with two different problems of their own, Obviously Royals’ being the major cause of concern will face up once again at Basseterre. Remember, in their last meeting, courtesy of Chandrapaul Hemraj’s hundred, Warriors had thrashed the Royals. Barbados Royals vs Guyana Amazon Warriors: Details Match Number: 20 Date and Time: September 08, 2021, 04:30 am IST, 07:00 pm Local (Sep 07), 11:00 pm GMT (Sep 07) Venue: Warner Park, Basseterre Broadcast: Star Sports Live Stream: Fancode Pitch Report The pitch at Basseterre has been getting slow with each passing day, although some wickets are also showing encouraging stuff like the 200 plus score by St Lucia Kings. Thus to expect what a wicket would do is not an easy job, but one thing issue that if it is going to be a new wicket, chances of which are very high since the game is after a day’s break, then a run-scoring wicket would be a display. Weather Forecast The weather at Warner Park will remain hot and humid with humidity of 76% at the time of the start of the match. The temperatures would remain in the lower thirties with the moderate breeze blowing. A captain winning the toss would look to bowl first. Probable XI Barbados Royals Johnson Charles, Shai Hope, Smit Patel, Glenn Phillips, Azam Khan (wk), Jason Holder (c), Raymon Reifer, Nyeem Young, Ashley Nurse, Jake Lintott, Oshane Thomas Guyana Amazon Warriors Chandrapaul Hemraj, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran (c & wk), Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Kevin Sinclair, Gudakesh Motie, Imran Tahir Dream XI Team Wicketkeepers Nicholas Pooran, Azam Khan Batters Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmye, Johnson Charles, Glenn Phillips All-rounders Mohammad Hafeez, Jason Holder Bowlers Romario Shepherd, Imran Tahir, Jake Lintott Vice-Captain Jason Holder Captain Mohammad Hafeez

SL vs SA | 3rd ODI: First time in history, spinners bowl 40 out of the 50 overs for South Africa in ODI cricket

If this is told years down the line that a South African cricket team with Kagiso Rabada, Wiaan Mulder and Andile Phehlukwayo in it, decided that 40 of its mandatory fifty overs in an ODI would be bowled by four spinners against a spin playing team like Sri Lanka, it would be very hard to believe. It might also become a quiz question for generations to come. Believe it or not, but that did happen and it happened on September 07th, 2021 in the third ODI of the three-match series between Sri Lanka and South Africa played at the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo. In fact, of the four spinners involved, one was a part-time bowler Aiden Markram who ended his 10 over spell with figures of 1-41. Among the other three, skipper Keshav Maharaj was the most successful with figures of 3-38 from his 10 overs. George Linde and Tabraiz Shamsi picked one wicket each as Sri Lanka slothed its way to 203-9 in its allotted 50 overs after being reduced to 121-6 in the 27th over. While among the nine wickets, eight were taken by spinners, it wasn’t till the 49th over that a pace bowler got a wicket. Mulder’s second delivery of 49th over, after being hammered by Chameera went straight to Janneman Malan at square leg and that's how the first wicket by a fast bowler was registered in this innings. While this has been a feat that might not be repeated ever, it broke an earlier record of three South Africa spinners bowling 30 overs in a fifty over a game. It happened during a game against India in Jamshedpur in 2000, which is 21 years ago.

SL vs SA | 3rd ODI: Flurry of wrong decision-making by umpires highlights first innings

The umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Lyndon Hannibal had a hard day at the office at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo during the first innings of Sri Lanka vs South Africa third ODI. They made some messy decisions which were eventually overturned after the review was taken. In total, the umpires made five wrong decisions including not being able to pick a no-ball for extra men outside the circle. The first of the wrong decisions was the very first wicket when Avishka Fernando, hit on the pads at the middle and leg was give not out while the hawkeye after the review was taken confirmed that the ball would have comfortably hit middle and leg. This was on the bowling of South African skipper Keshav Maharaj. Some overs later, George Linde hit Dinesh Chandimal on the pads after the latter missed a straighter ball trying to sweep it. This was also given not out by the umpire before skipper Maharaj was convinced by Linde and wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen to take the review. The review showed that the ball pitched in line contrary to what the umpire thought that it was pitching outside leg and then it went on to hit the middle stump. Later on, Chamika Karunaratne was adjudged out leg before wicket off a Tabraiz Shamsi delivery that he had hit for sure and on review, it showed exactly that. In the 4oth over once again the umpire gave out to Dushmantha Chameera on the bowling off Shamsi while the ball was clearly doing too much and missing leg stumps, which was confirmed after Chameera took the review. Lastly, Charith Asalanka was declared out after he was caught down the square leg off the bowling of Linde, however, on Asalanka’s complaint, the no-ball for one extra fielder outside the 30 yeard circle was checked and it was confirmed, giving Sri Lanka and Asalanka a shy of relief. However, it was one more evidence of umpires’ mistake in this game.

BAN vs NZ | 4th T20I: Having tasted blood, New Zealand look to stretch series to the final

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