Humiliating Series Defeat for the Proteas

Though the series has been won by the Sri Lankans, everyone believed that the Africans would make a comeback and finish the series on a high note. Unfortunately, they finished the series with an humiliating defeat. The worst defeat for them in this series as well as this year. The previous worst series defeat for them came against the England in the year 2010. As they already have the series, Lankans once again gave chance to Kusal Perera, who is considered to fill the boots of Sanath Jayasuriya, but once again he disappointed everyone with a single digit score. Sure he has to do a lot of work to get back into the side.

The last match centurion, Dilshan and Thirimanne, then steadied the innings with a 163-run patnership which was furnished by some exquisite cover drives and off drives by both the batsmen. The only moment the Africans were in control was the starting powerplay. Once these two batsmen survived that phase, it was easy picking for both of them. As the Proteas were looking a magic to get a wicket, they got in the form of Duminy who took a splendid diving catch to get rid of Thirimanne but they cant celebrate much as the next batsman to the crease was the inform Sangakkara. As the Premadasa crowd prepared to celebrate what would have been Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 18th ton, he hit a wall of doubt and gave his wicket away. Cleverly, Ryan McLaren aimed yorkers at Dilshan on 99, and though the bowler did not always hit the blockhole, a tentative Dilshan could not force a run in four deliveries. The fifth ball tailed into the batsman, who should have been equal to it given his longevity at the crease and his fluency before that over, but a half-hearted drive allowed the ball to slip past and strike middle stump. But they Sri Lankan fans were not not disappointed as Sangakkara smashed 75 off just 45 balls completing the most profitable bilateral series for any Sri Lanka batsman.

Quinton de Kock and Amla started the innings comfortably striking fours all around the park but the first ball after the introduction of spin saw the stumps of Kock being rattled by another mystery spinner, Senanayake. Soon after the dismissal of Amla, the scorecard read 85/6, with the lastest wicket, Miller, gone for a silver duck. They just didnt have any clue about where the ball was moving in that phase. The skipper, de Villiers, tried to consolidate the innings but it was far from late as the required rate jumped to more than 10. After his dismissal, the tail played the waiting game and stretched the game till 44th over which was intimating for the Sri Lankans as they were waiting to celebrate.

Sangakkara won the man of the series award due to his prolific run scoring in this tournament. The Proteas have to forgot about this series and try to get into the winning mode.