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.