SL beat SA by 3 wickets | South Africa vs Sri Lanka, Highlights And Cricket Score One-off T20I Match - Commentary

After a long month, filled with upsets, dominance and feisty battles throughout, we have come to an end of this fun-filled tour. Sri Lanka blew the Proteas away in the Test series, which was followed by the tourists exacting revenge in the ODI series. They won the first three games, but Sri Lanka didn't lose heart and clawed their way in the remaining two, garnering momentum and taking this one-off T20I, even if it was by the skin of their teeth. Lots of lessons for the young blood and the newcomers in the South African side, plenty of experience to gain. They'll use all of it well for the future. Anyway, for now, our fellow peeps, it's goodbye from us. Hope to see you on the next one. Cheers!

Sri Lankan skipper, Angelo Mathews, says they made it difficult for themselves by losing wickets but feels they were very good in the field and with the ball. He admits they did not bat well but credits the bowlers for the way they bowled. Reckons there is improvement in all three departments. He hopes to carry the momentum into the up coming tournaments. Thanks the fans for their support despite the team failing in the ODIs.

South African skipper, JP Duminy, says 30 to 40 more runs would have made a difference. Admits they could not execute their plans with the bat. Adds further they take a lot of positives from the tour and they hope to come out stronger next time. Mentions they have learnt their lessons. Credits the way the Lankan spinners bowled. He feels it was a good wicket. Mentions he thoroughly enjoyed the role of a captain but is disappointed on not ending on the winning side. Ends by saying they had to change their mind set and approach after the Test series and it worked out for them in the first 3 ODIs.

Man of the Match, Dhananjaya de Silva, says he tried to play according to the situation. Adds further that his team needed him to stay out there and he did so. Reckons it was a 140-plus pitch but both the teams bowled really well. Informs they had a plan and it was executed well. Ends by saying that the new ball was coming onto the bat and the fast bowlers were easier to face.

Had it not been for that fifty partnership between Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva, this game could have been all but lost for the Lankans. The former ensured he was there right till the end to see his team home, otherwise the home side could have been in serious risk of losing this one too. An easy chase turned into unnecessary chaos, something which they could and should have avoided. The presentation will be coming up shortly...

They huffed and puffed but the Islanders have managed to just about hobble across the finish line. There are smiles all around, but in all honesty, they'd be quite disappointed in how they fared with the bat. Much like the Proteas actually. It was a tale of poor batting subsequently backed up by superb bowling from both sides. Initially, the Sri Lankan spinners wrapped the South African batsmen up for just 98, sharing 7 wickets between them. And then, similar for the visitors as all barring Lungi Ngidi chipped in with the wickets.

Lungi Ngidi to Isuru Udana. FOUR! The double bluff doesn't work as Udana picks it up. Expects the full ball to come in and drives it straight back past the bowler to send it away to the boundary line. He celebrates with Chandimal and the crowd goes wild. SRI LANKA WIN BY 3 WICKETS!

Short leg comes in. Short stuff?

Lungi Ngidi to Dinesh Chandimal. A push-punch through the gap in the covers for a single. One ball for Udana to survive.

Lungi Ngidi to Dinesh Chandimal. Two more. Ngidi dishes out a low full toss on the stumps, it's flicked through mid-wicket for a double.

Lungi Ngidi to Dinesh Chandimal. Excellent effort from Klaasen. Not many runs left to play with, every save is vital. Chandimal does well here to cut this past the diving point fielder. Seems the ball will race away but Heinrich from sweeper cover moves a long way to his left and dives to keep it in. Two runs taken by the batsmen.

Lungi Ngidi to Dinesh Chandimal. Angling back in from wider of the crease, Dinesh blocks it back to the right of the bowler.

Lungi Ngidi to Dinesh Chandimal. Back of a length quite close to off, not much room on offer as Chandimal can only punch it square to point.

Lungi Ngidi returns.

JP Duminy to Isuru Udana. Straighter one outside off, beats the outside edge and thuds into the keeper's gloves.

JP Duminy to Isuru Udana. Some extra bounce as it's landed around off, spins in and Udana defends from the higher part of the blade.

JP Duminy to Isuru Udana. Goes with the spin and works it away on the leg side.

JP Duminy to Dinesh Chandimal. Knocks it down to long on and takes one more.

JP Duminy to Isuru Udana. Over the wicket now, low dipping full toss on the pads, Udana pushes it to long on and gets Chandimal on strike.

Isuru Udana walks in next. Will he be able to hold his nerve? A slip and a leg slip in place for him.

JP Duminy to Akila Dananjaya. OUT! He's started well for sure. Wicket off the very first ball of his spell. Bowls this a bit slower through the air in line of the stumps, Dananjaya expects this to turn and plays away from his body, leaving a big gap between bat and pad. The ball doesn't spin at all, keeps on going straight and crashes into the furniture behind. 11 needed in 35 balls. 3 wickets left for Sri Lanka.

JP Duminy is on for the first time in this innings. Crucial juncture to bring himself on. Can he get the job done? Two slips and a short leg in place.

Junior Dala to Dinesh Chandimal. Chandimal taps this to point and wants the single, but it's straight to point. Akila will be on strike for the next over.

Junior Dala to Akila Dananjaya. Switches to around the wicket and spears in a full ball around off, angling in. Akila drives it just wide of mid off and steals a quick run.

Junior Dala to Dinesh Chandimal. Shaping back in from a good length, on middle and leg, clipped with the wrists down to fine leg. One more to the total.

Junior Dala to Akila Dananjaya. On middle and leg, goes off the inside half of Dananjaya's bat and down to fine leg as the batsmen cross over.

Junior Dala to Dinesh Chandimal. Length delivery kicking off the deck on off, Chandimal plays it on the up and drives it aerially towards wide mid off for one.

Junior Dala to Dinesh Chandimal. Wide! Bumper from Junior. Too high to worry the batsman! Wide signalled by the umpire.

Junior Dala to Dinesh Chandimal. Length delivery from Dala, it's defended solidly from inside the crease.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Akila Dananjaya. A wicket-maiden to end a fantastic spell from Shamsi. He has returns of 4-1-26-2. Superb. Spinning away from around off, Dananjaya hangs his bat out and gets beaten.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Akila Dananjaya. Quite slow through the air as Shamsi lands it full around off, Akila presses forward and defends it well.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Akila Dananjaya. Flat, short and just around off, Akila goes back and forces the punch to the cover region.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Akila Dananjaya. Fuller in length outside off, pushed to the covers for no run.

Akila Dananjaya to be the new batsman in.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Thisara Perera. OUT! He's bowled 'em! Thisara 'The Finisher' is now Thisara 'The Finished'. What a ball this though. Shasmi tosses this up and bowls the googly around off, Thisara doesn't pick it up as he leaves a huge gap between bat and pad while trying to defend. Right through the gate and the stumps are disturbed. A little too late perhaps for South Africa. Or is it? 16 more needed.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Thisara Perera. A lot of drift in around off, keeps going down with the angle, Thisara stays leg side to defend but is caught on the front pad.

Junior Dala to Dinesh Chandimal. Defended off the back foot by the batsman. Sri Lanka need 16 in 48 balls.

Junior Dala to Dinesh Chandimal. Wide! Banged in short but it's too short, wide called by the umpire.

Thisara 'The Finisher' Perera strides out to join Chandimal.

Junior Dala to Dasun Shanaka. OUT! Still some twist left in this seemingly finished tale? Maybe. Maybe. Short of a length into the body, Shanaka goes across the line with a heave over backward square leg. Unfortunately for him, it goes off the top edge and doesn't have the distance on it as a result. Reeza Hendricks in the deep settles under the ball and takes a safe catch.

Junior Dala to Dasun Shanaka. Just behind a length, angling in on middle and leg, raps Shanaka high on the pads as he tries to pay across the line.

Junior Dala to Dasun Shanaka. Full length delivery around off, a mistimed drive from Shanaka finds the man at mid off.

Junior Dala to Dasun Shanaka. Plays this fuller length ball on the up and drives it nicely through the big gap in the covers. A couple added to the total.

Junior Dala to Dinesh Chandimal. Fired in on the pads, flicked through the square leg area for a single.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Dasun Shanaka. NOT OUT! Just as I wrote, missing leg and South Africa lose their sole review. I feel that was a review in desperation. The leggie from Shamsi on middle, it pitches and turns back in sharply. Shanaka goes back and is not able to put bat to it. It hits him on the pads. The players make a huge appeal but the umpire stays put. Duminy goes for the review after a chat with his teammates. Replays roll in and it shows the ball to be going down leg.

Review time! An appeal for an LBW has been turned down. Shanaka is the man in question. South Africa go for the review. Missing leg for me.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Dasun Shanaka. FOUR! Third boundary in the over and now Sri Lanka need only 20. This is a half-tracker by Shamsi, Shanaka goes back and pulls it over mid-wicket, away from the fielder and into the fence.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Dasun Shanaka. FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries! This was played with finesse! The googly outside off, Shanaka waits for it and then guides it through short third man. Rabada gives it a chase but finishes second.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Dasun Shanaka. FOUR! This should release the pressure that was building. Dasun goes down on one knee and sweeps it through backward square leg and the ball races away.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Dasun Shanaka. Floats it up on middle, Shanaka defends it out.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Dinesh Chandimal. Well fielded! They need to stop every run possible and Duminy, the skipper leading by example has just stopped three. Chandimal uses his feet and drives it towards mid off. JP there runs to his left and stops it with a dive.

Junior Dala to Dinesh Chandimal. Chandimal uses the angle into him by moving inside the line and flicking it through mid-wicket. A run is collected.

Junior Dala to Dinesh Chandimal. Hangs back and keeps it out with a straight blade.

Junior Dala to Dasun Shanaka. Shortish and banged outside off, it's steered behind point, towards third man for a single.

Junior Dala to Dasun Shanaka. Banged in short, Dasun ducks and evades.

Junior Dala to Dasun Shanaka. Low full toss on off, it's whipped past short mid-wicket. Unfortunately, the ball goes straight to wide mid on.

Junior Dala to Dasun Shanaka. Length delivery angling in on off, Shanaka taps it down in front of point with an open face.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Dasun Shanaka. This time it is the leggie from Shamsi, Shanaka tries to push it but gets it off the inner half towards mid-wicket and a run is taken.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Dasun Shanaka. BEATEN! Shanaka is in all sorts out there. He has no idea which way the ball is turning. It is the googly outside off. Shanaka pokes at it and gets beaten.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Dasun Shanaka. Loopy ball on middle, Shanaka eases it to mid on.

Dasun Shanaka to bat next.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Angelo Mathews. OUT! That is a rippaa!!! Klaasen has just plucked that out of thin air. Mathews goes for a duck and South Africa still hanging in there. Shamsi gives it air and lands it around the pads as it comes turning back in. Angelo once again tries to work it on the leg side but does not keep it down. It goes uppishly towards backward short leg where Klaasen sticks his left hand out and snaps it inches above the surface. He throws the ball up in delight as Mathews starts trudging back to the dressing room. 36 more needed with 6 wickets in hand. Game on?

Tabraiz Shamsi to Angelo Mathews. With the turn, AM works it to mid-wicket.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Angelo Mathews. Floats it up on off, Mathews defends it onto the ground.

Tabraiz Shamsi is back on.

Junior Dala to Dinesh Chandimal. FOUR! Ends the over in style! Short and outside off, Chandimal cuts it through point and the ball races away.

Junior Dala to Dinesh Chandimal. The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.

Skipper Angelo Mathews walks out in the middle.

Junior Dala to Dhananjaya de Silva. OUT! In the air... taken! Dala provides the breakthrough but one would feel it's a little too late. A short ball outside off, de Silva tries to drag his pull but only manages to get a top edge which balloons towards mid on. Phehlukwayo there completes a dolly. Dhananjaya walks back dejected as he knows he has thrown it away. Nevertheless, his innings has kept Sri Lanka on the front foot.

Junior Dala to Dhananjaya de Silva. Shortish and outside off, de Silva cuts it hard but finds the fielder at point.

Junior Dala to Dhananjaya de Silva. SIX! Runs now coming thick and fast! Another short delivery which has been put away. Short and on the body. Dhananjaya swivels and pulls it over the backward square leg fence. 50-run stand is up and the two more or less have sealed the deal for Lanka.

Junior Dala to Dinesh Chandimal. On middle, tucked around the corner for a run.

Junior Dala is called on to have a go with the ball.

Kagiso Rabada to Dhananjaya de Silva. A brilliant delivery to end his spell. Another pacey bouncer. It passes Dhananjaya even before he realizes. End of a fiery spell by Rabada. 4-0-24-2.

Kagiso Rabada to Dhananjaya de Silva. This time too he bowls a dot! Another nicely disguised slower ball outside off. Dhananjaya swings but misses it by a month.

Kagiso Rabada to Dhananjaya de Silva. NO BALL! Rabada oversteps. Trying to bowl too fast maybe. He bowls it on a length, de Silva pushes it back to the bowler. Free Hit coming up. The last time he bowled a dot on the freebie.

Kagiso Rabada to Dhananjaya de Silva. The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot.

Kagiso Rabada to Dhananjaya de Silva. FOUR! 50 up for the Lankans. The runs needed is also below 50 now. Another top shot by de Silva. On a length and once again the bowler pays the price for providing width. Dhananjaya drives it through covers and a boundary results.

Kagiso Rabada to Dhananjaya de Silva. On a length around off, de Silva blocks it.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal. On the fuller side, Chandimal drives it back past the bowler and takes one.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Dhananjaya de Silva. The batsman manages only a bottom edge on that one. End of a good Powerplay for Sri Lanka. They are 46 for 2.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Dinesh Chandimal. On the shorter side but a bit quicker, Chandimal goes back and punches it down the ground for a run.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Dinesh Chandimal. Flatter on off, Chandimal having got 10 off the over already (plus a wide), lunges and defends.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Dinesh Chandimal. The googly on middle, Chandimal keeps it out.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Dinesh Chandimal. SIX! Top edge but no one in the deep. It would not have mattered either way as the ball carried over the ropes. Shamsi tosses it up on middle, Chandimal plays the sweep again. This time he gets a top edge which goes over the square leg fence.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Dinesh Chandimal. FOUR! Poor ball and it has been dispatched! It is short and down the leg side. Chandimal is too good to miss out. He goes down on one knee and sweeps it through backward square leg and the ball races away.

Tabraiz Shamsi to Dinesh Chandimal. A false start for him. Down the leg side and the umpire has wided it.

Tabraiz Shamsi is into the attack now.

Kagiso Rabada to Dhananjaya de Silva. A brute of a delivery to end the over! A shorter length delivery. It takes off after pitching. Dhananjaya once again does well to take his hands out of the way and let it go to the keeper.

Kagiso Rabada to Dhananjaya de Silva. Length ball again on off, de Silva opens the face of the bat and guides it to the gully fielder. That was nicely played, he played it by taking one hand off the handle.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal. Shorter in length on off, Chandimal pushes it past the diving short cover fielder and takes a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal. Hits the length hard on off, Chandimal guides it to point.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal. On a length, Chandimal drives it on the up to mid off.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal. FOUR! 18 from the last 7 balls and Sri Lanka now seem to be cruising. A gift by Rabada. A full toss on the pads, Chandimal says thank you very much as he flicks it through backward square leg and the ball races away.

Lungi Ngidi to Dhananjaya de Silva. No width on offer this time as Ngidi attacks the stumps. Dhananjaya defends it. Another good over for Sri Lanka and 21 have come from the last 2.

Lungi Ngidi to Dhananjaya de Silva. FOUR! Make that 14! Shot of the innings so far. How classy was that? Back of a length on off, once again the slightest of width offered and that was enough. Dhananjaya goes back and punches it through covers and the ball crosses the fence.

Lungi Ngidi to Dhananjaya de Silva. FOUR! Width on offer and Dhananjaya pounces on it. Outside off and on a fuller length. He slaps it through covers and you need not run for those. 10 runs from the over so far.

Lungi Ngidi to Dhananjaya de Silva. Fuller on middle, de Silva works it to mid on.

Lungi Ngidi to Dhananjaya de Silva. A tad fuller than the last delivery. De Silva punches it to covers.

Lungi Ngidi to Dhananjaya de Silva. SIX! Top edge and that has carried all the way. Dhananjaya de Silva is playing with all the luck possible. It is a half-tracker outside off, the batsman tries to drag his pull but gets a thick top edge. It flies over the third man fence for the first maximum of the innings. 78 more needed.

Kagiso Rabada to Dhananjaya de Silva. A single to end a good over for the batting side. Back of a length on middle, de Silva nudges it through mid-wicket and takes one.

Kagiso Rabada to Dhananjaya de Silva. Goes back to bowling length on off, de Silva defends it onto the ground.

Kagiso Rabada to Dhananjaya de Silva. FOUR! Well, Dhananjaya had no qualms in putting that away. Nicely played! The bouncer on middle, de Silva gets on top of the bounce, rolls his wrists and pulls it through square leg for the first boundary of this innings.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal. Chandimal works it towards mid-wicket and gets to the other end. Looking at the way Rabada is bowling, both the batsmen would like to be at the non-striker's end.

Kagiso Rabada to Dhananjaya de Silva. Up in the air... but safe! Rabada almost has his third. Dhananjaya must consider himself a touch lucky. Another length delivery by Rabada on middle, de Silva tries to flick but gets a top edge which goes high up in the air towards mid-wicket. The fielder there runs towards the ball but can't get it. Only a single taken.

Kagiso Rabada to Dhananjaya de Silva. Back of a length on middle, de Silva works it to the man at mid-wicket.

Lungi Ngidi to Dinesh Chandimal. Stands tall to this shortish ball and defends it down to end an eventful over from Lungi Ngidi.

Lungi Ngidi to Dhananjaya de Silva. Another streaky shot. South Africa on top here. Back of a length on off, it goes off the inside edge and past the leg stump for a single.

Lungi Ngidi to Dhananjaya de Silva. Another shout, but Ngidi instantly pulls out of it. Length delivery angling in on middle and leg, Dhananjaya is caught on the pads as he's beaten for pace. Always sliding down leg though.

Lungi Ngidi to Dhananjaya de Silva. Cut in half! Ripper from Lungi. Brings this one back in and takes de Silva by surprise. He tries to put bat on ball but it goes right through the gate. There's a loud shout made as the ball goes past the batsman, but the umpire turns it down. Rightly so too, the noise was of the ball hitting the flap of the pad.

Lungi Ngidi to Dinesh Chandimal. Edged but safe! Full around off and swinging away late, Chandimal drives away from his body and gets a thick edge through the vacant backward point position. Down to third man and that's a single.

Lungi Ngidi to Dinesh Chandimal. Short and well wide outside off, Chandimal looks to reach out to it but the away movement beats him.

Lungi Ngidi to bowl from the other end. Also, Dhananjaya de Silva walks into the middle next.

Kagiso Rabada to Kusal Mendis. OUT! Three reds and Mendis has been given his marching orders. Rabada is breathing fire out there. South Africa can now believe as they have both the openers back in the hut in the first over itself. Brilliant by Rabada, he follows the bumper with a corker of a yorker on middle. Mendis is a little too late to get his bat down and is struck on the pads. The players appeal but the umpire does not agree. Rabada feels it is 50-50 but Duminy goes for the review. Replays roll in and they show no bat involved. The disturbance on Snicko was of the bat hitting the ground. Further, Hawk Eye shows it to be pitching in line and hitting the leg pole. End of a double-wicket over for South Africa. They started well with the bat by striking three boundaries in the first over and now have taken two wickets in the first over with the ball.

Have South Africa got another? Looks close as they have gone for a review for an LBW. Kusal Mendis is the man in question.

Kagiso Rabada to Kusal Mendis. Nothing off the Free Hit! Another pacey bumper on middle, Mendis tries to pull but misses it. He was beaten by pace there.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal. NO BALL! Rabada oversteps in search of extra pace. He lands it on a length around off, Chandimal guides it down to third man and gets to the other end. Free Hit coming up.

Dinesh Chandimal is the next man in.

Kagiso Rabada to Kusal Perera. OUT! GONE! Rabada strikes and strikes early. Exactly what South Africa needed. This is just ahead of a length on off, Kusal Perera just like he does, stands tall and tries to flat-bat it over mid on. He hits it hard but does not get the desired elevation. Shamsi at that position takes a sharp catch. Pin-drop silence in the stadium as Perera walks back cheaply.

Kagiso Rabada to Kusal Perera. Uppish but safe! A brace! Back of a length on off, KP stands tall and punches it wide of mid off and runs two.

Kagiso Rabada to Kusal Mendis. Errs in line and bowls it down the leg side, gets good bounce on the delivery. Mendis does well to work it around the corner and get off the mark.

Kagiso Rabada to Kusal Perera. Off the mark straightaway are Sri Lanka. A good delivery though to begin with by Rabada. Back of a length on off, Perera tries to defend but gets an inside edge onto his body. The ball rolls towards the off side and the batsmen steal a run.

We are back for the chase. Out come the openers Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis. The former will be on strike and he will face Kagiso Rabada. Here we go...