Johannesburg, Jan 22: Sri Lanka beat South Africa in a close encounter by 2 wickets at the fifth and final ODI here at Johannesburg
Last Over Commentary:
49.1 Peterson to Nuwan Kulasekara, out Bowled!! Hang on, folks! There is definitely a twist in the tale. Peterson floats a loopy delivery and gives it some air on the stumps, it hangs in the air as Kula backs away and looks to thump it over extra cover, he swings and misses as the ball crashes into middle and leg stump. Nuwan Kulasekara b Peterson 0(1)
49.2 Peterson to Herath, 1 run, flatter ball just outside off, Herath guides it to backward point and Thirimanne pinches a quick single
Rangana Herath, left handed bat, comes to the crease
49.3 Peterson to Thirimanne, out Caught by Albie Morkel!! Oh my! SA are firm favorites now. Thirimanne charges down the track and Peterson fires across a quick and wide ball outside off, Thirimanne adjusts and slices it to backward point, Albie does not drop it and the match is poised on a knife-edge. Thirimanne c Albie Morkel b Peterson 69(63) [4s-7]
Peterson to Thirimanne, THATS OUT!! Caught!!
49.4 Peterson to Senanayake, no run, flatter ball on the middle and leg stump, Senanayake dances down the track but ends up padding it to the off side
Sachithra Senanayake, right handed bat, comes to the crease
5 runs needed off 3 balls. Who would have thought about it? Remember, they needed nine of two overs. This is collapse that can make South Africa proud.
49.5 Peterson to Senanayake, SIX, Senanayake you Beauty! What a moment for him. Peterson floats a full and loopy delivery on the middle and leg stump, Senanayake bends down and slogs it over deep square leg, the timing is not spot on but it is just enough to go over the ropes, the SL dressing room erupt with joy, what a game to end off the South African summer
Sangakkara and Thirimanne were outstanding with the bat. Sanga notched up his maiden ODI century against SA while Thirimanne notched up his first ODI fifty. Wickets tumbled at the end as South Africa made a match of it. However, Senanayake struck a six that got SL crossed the line with two wickets to spare.
AB De Villiers: Things have been going my way. I have been working really hard. The boys have played really well. I wasn't expecting a hundred today. I was fortunate to get past my hundred. I am very happy for Graeme Smith. The boys competed really well. I'm really happy about my first series win. New Zealand is not going to be easy, they play really well at home.
K Sangakkara: It was important to get some runs. There was a stage where we could have limited them to less than 300. Our openers batted really well. I should have extended my follow through on the ball that I got out. I should have stayed till the end to finish the game.
T Dilshan: Chasing above 300 will always be tricky. The South Africans came back at the end. Batting unit clicked. We have batted better after getting out for 43 in the first game. There have been many positives from this series. We might have won the series if not for the rain in the 3rd ODI. I'm back to form.
AB De Villiers is the Man of the Series. He has scored 329 runs in 5 innings at an astounding average of 110. Moreover he has also led the his side to victory in his very first series as captain.
K Sangakkara has been adjudged the Man of the Match for his terrific knock of 102(97).
Sri Lanka came right back into the series with two wins. One wonders that if rain had not interuppted the proceedings in the 3rd ODI, it might well have been 3-2 in the visitors favor. It has been a lion-hearted performance from them, chasing two targets of over 300 in consecutive matches.