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          Parnell's perfect start, Tahir's perfect set-up

          Wayne Parnell enjoyed the perfect start to his day AFP
          • Andrew McGlashan, Deputy editor, ESPNcricinfoJan 28, 2017, 02:04 PM
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              Deputy Editor Andrew arrived at ESPNcricinfo via Manchester and Cape Town, after finding the assistant editor at a weak moment as he watched England's batting collapse in the Newlands Test. Andrew began his cricket writing as a freelance covering Lancashire during 2004 when they were relegated in the County Championship. In fact, they were top of the table when he began reporting on them but things went dramatically downhill. He likes to let people know that he is a supporter of county cricket, a fact his colleagues will testify to and bemoan in equal quantities.

          The handy start

          It doesn't feel as though Wayne Parnell is secure of his place in the South Africa team and the frustrations that appear on his face are of a man who thinks the same. This, therefore, is a crucial one-day series for him to ensure the selectors don't start to question his place for the Champions Trophy. He made the ideal start when he clattered his first delivery into the pads of Niroshan Dickwella, who had played well in the T20 series, to win an lbw decision.

          The rarity

          Richard Kettleborough, the English umpire, is widely regarded as one of the finest on the international circuit and it's not often that he has a decision overturned by the DRS. But it happened in Sri Lanka's innings when he gave Kusal Mendis lbw to Imran Tahir only for replays to show it had taken the edge. The howling gale blowing across the ground made life tricky for a lot of people, including the umpires who needed to listen for the nicks. The next time Mendis reviewed, though, normal service was resumed as Kettleborough's decision was upheld.

          The set-up

          Watching a legspinner work over a batsman is one of the joys of the game (unless you are the said batsman). Tahir did a wonderful job on Dinesh Chandimal. A straighter delivery was followed by a legbreak, then he sent down a googly which pitched around middle and spun to take the pad. The next ball, the final one of the over, was another wrong 'un, but this time tossed much wider outside off. He lured Chandimal forward, pushing away from his body, and ball gripped to spin between bat and pad.

          The wrong button

          When things are going badly for a batting side there's a decent chance a run out will crop up. And, on cue, Sri Lanka conjured one when Dhananjaya de Silva and Asela Gunaratne messed up between the wickets and Gunaratne was well short. Everyone knew he was out, but for a moment 'not out' flashed up on the big screen. No, the third umpire hadn't been watching a different replay, the wrong button had just been pushed.

          Bonus runs

          When you are defending 181 you can't afford to hand free runs to the opposition. Hashim Amla was facing Lakshan Sandakan when a delivery slipped down the leg side, through Chandimal's gloves and clanged into the helmet behind him. Five more to the total - not that South Africa needed much help - and the over ended up costing 14.