Du Plessis, Rabada landmarks sink Sri Lanka
Captain Faf du Plessis welcomed 5 000 ODI runs and fast bowler Kagiso Rabada 100 wickets, as South Africa sealed comfortable victory over Sri Lanka at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday.
Full ScorecardTriumph by 113 runs in the second ODI afforded the Proteas a commanding two-nil lead in the five-match series. They won the series opener by eight wickets at the Wanderers in Johannesburg last week.
Pursuing a 252-run target, the Sri Lankans slipped to 138 all out in 32.2 overs. Poor shot selection and shoddy stroke play lined the chase, as Rabada, fellow fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje - and legspinner Imran Tahir - capitalised.
The quartet shared nine breakthroughs, with Rabada the standout performer. He became the 12th South African to take 100 wickets in ODI cricket en route to figures of three for 43.
"The way we responded in the field was exactly what we wanted," said Du Plessis after what he said was a disappointing batting performance.
Notably, teammate David Miller kept wicket during Ngidi's closing spell. Regular wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock left the field shortly before the end of the match.
"We are working with him to make him a better 'keeper," said De Kock.
MAMMOTH COLLAPSE
Earlier, De Kock and Du Plessis struck half-centuries, but South Africa were limited to 251 all out in 45.1 overs.
Visiting captain Lasith Malinga's decision to bowl first after winning the toss backfired initially, but later brought reward.
The Proteas relished a brisk 91-run alliance between De Kock and fellow opener Reeza Hendricks. The former amassed 94 to the latter's 27, which were followed by Du Plessis's 57.
The host skipper, too, became the 10th South African cricketer to reach 5 000 runs in the intermediate format of the international game.
Miller and allrounder Wiaan Mulder pledged more in the middle-order, but fell for 25 and 17, respectively. The fit-again Andile Phehlukwayo managed a mere two after being preferred to fellow allrounder Dwaine Pretorius.
The Proteas, indeed, collapsed from 176 for three to 239 for eight - and ultimately nothing close to a forecast total of 300-plus.
Seamer Thisara Perera was statistically the best of the tourists' bowling attack. His haul of 3-26 featured the important dismissals of De Kock, Du Plessis and the dangerous Rassie van der Dussen.
Malinga, meanwhile, joined former allrounder Sanath Jayasuriya as Sri Lanka's third-highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket. Only the retired Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas have more.
The Sri Lanka captain made no attempt to hide his disappointment with his team's batting after what he said was "a really good effort by the bowlers".
Malinga said it was not a case of analysing or discussing what had gone wrong.
"Each player knows their value. They have to come up and value their opportunity," he said.
The third, fourth and fifth ODI will be played at Kingsmead in Durban, St George's Park in Port Elizabeth and Newlands in Cape Town, respectively, later this month.
Three T20Is - at Newlands, SuperSport Park and the Wanderers - against the same opposition will follow.
The ongoing series effectively serves the Proteas' preparation for the World Cup in the United Kingdom later this year.
Their first fixture in the global showpiece will be against England at The Oval in London on 30 May.
SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Faf du Plessis (capt), Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Wiaan Mulder, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir
SRI LANKA: Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Oshada Fernando, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Akila Dananjaya, Lasith Malinga (capt), Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando
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