END OF OVER:24 | 2 Runs | SL: 121/5 (72 runs required, RR: 5.04)
- Isuru Udana0 (9b)
- Kamindu Mendis8 (13b)
- Imran Tahir5-0-19-2
- Tabraiz Shamsi4-0-29-1
7:09pm And that is all from our coverage! Thanks for joining us and we'll see you soon.
Faf: We wanted to improve and the batting was the one thing [we wanted to improve]. Especially when you have a good start. Today the guys came in and started partnerships. Normally it's difficult to come and score runs in Durban and they made it looks easy. You need to have hitters in the tank and that's one thing we've always been blessed. Today it was pleasing to see the talking we did after the last game was put into action. A really good package performance, I was proud of the guys. The plan is regardless of the results, everything we're thinking about, our big picture thinking, will be implemented in the last two games. We'll have to see what the selection panel gives us tomorrow.
QDK: [Training when you're in this form] Series in general, you just top up to make sure you're in your grove. Doing a lot of practice can be mentally tiring, so I just do top-ups. It's a mental thing. The season before was not my best ever. Came out this season with a strong mindset. Just to convert one of my scores into a decent score was pleasing.
Quinton de Kock is the Man of the Match.
Malinga: First half when we were bowling, we misfielded a lot. 15-20 runs too much. We got a good start 2 for 75, but after that with the DLS, it's very hard to get that kind of target. We were looking forward to concentrate and play their roles, but with the rain they couldn't do what we expected. Kamindu is a very interesting player in our future. He's a plus point going into the matches. We still want to give opportunity for the players to get confidence and do their job.
Y.V.: "Let us Sri Lankans be proud for the fact that Our team accepted the target. Fernando, Mendis, Thisara tried their best. Lets forget about this match and move on."
Abhijato: "Haha... Tahir clearly wants as many wickets as he can get before he rides off into the glorious sunset. We will miss your idiosyncrasies, Imran!"
Graeme: "The issue with DLS is that there's never going to be a way to accurately predict something that didn't happen because of rain, there's no perfect system"
Tiaan: "Hahah another first review of the last ball with 70 adv."
Rifdhy: "Are you kidding me Tahir? Reviewing after you win the game... bit of funny though"
6:52pm And that is the game. Ending much later than originally expected, and also much tamer than it might have been. A boring, dull end in front of nearly no spectators. BUT, South Africa dominated this game with the bat and had their noses ahead with the ball too. They win the five-match series at 3-0 now. Quiton de Kock finally converting a brisk start. Top innings from him, that 121. South Africa's wobbly middle-order chose caution today. Rassie with a 67-ball 50, Miller with an unbeaten 42 off 46. This was largely due to debutant Kamindu, who gave them nothing with his various styles of bowling. But the allrounders got a good hit in, particularly Phehlukwayo, who finished with an unbeaten 38 off 15 balls. One of the factors that led to DLS pulling this game well out of Sri Lanka's way. Andrew Fidel Fernando's report will tell you that story shortly.
Sri Lanka need 72 off 1 ball.
END OF OVER:23 | 1 Run | SL: 119/5 (74 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 5.17, RRR: 74.00)
- Isuru Udana0 (6b)
- Kamindu Mendis7 (10b)
- Tabraiz Shamsi4-0-29-1
- Imran Tahir4-0-17-2
Jez: "In the other ODI today, Aus were 80-2 off 16, chasing 359, and look what happened there! I'm a great fan of DLS but clearly Sri Lanka got a rough deal here. A few tweaks are in order, methinks." --- Totally. Can be too simplistic sometimes.
END OF OVER:22 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | SL: 118/5 (75 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 5.36, RRR: 37.50)
- Kamindu Mendis7 (10b)
- Isuru Udana0 (0b)
- Imran Tahir4-0-17-2
- Tabraiz Shamsi3-0-28-1
Naveed : "Given how the Aussies and the Lankans were going neck-and-neck in their chase, Sri Lanka would have won this game had rain not interrupted ;)"
NLTC Perera c van der Dussen b Imran Tahir 12 (23m 14b 0x4 0x6) SR: 85.71
And that means he'll need a change of bat.
MK: "Which way does Kamindu Mendis bat? Interested to know after his ambidextrous bowling display?" --- Extremely left-handed so far
END OF OVER:21 | 7 Runs | SL: 113/4 (80 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 5.38, RRR: 26.66)
- Kamindu Mendis5 (7b)
- Thisara Perera9 (11b)
- Tabraiz Shamsi3-0-28-1
- Imran Tahir3-0-12-1
Sven: "Again, anyone complaining about DLS when playing against the Proteas REALLY need to check their history with regards to the Proteas and DLS and then come back and apologise."