Hyderabad: JP Duminy’s hat-trick, assisted by Imran Tahir’s razor sharp bowling prowess plotted the perfect script for a Sri Lankan downfall, but then rain decided to intervene and take things into its own hands, bringing the Lankan scoreboard crashing to 127/9 in 36.2 overs.
As play resumed, the last wicket remaining was scalped, wrapping the Sri Lankan innings at 133.
Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first. There was a slight change in the batting order, as Dilshan and Kusal Parera walked out to open the Sri Lankan innings. Steyn and Abbott began the proceedings for the Proteas, and Abbott struck in the second over, removing Parera for 3.
Sangakkara was the new man in, but just as he began settling, Dilshan was taken for 0 in the 5th over, bringing Thirimanne in.
Together, the duo took the score to 35/2 in 10 overs. They played very cautiously, in a bid to avoid more damage, building a patient 50-run partnership. Sangakkara was uncharacteristically quiet, leaving the deliveries alone, pleasing the crowd with a rare boundary.
But then, the South Africans bounced back yet again, this time Imran Tahir scalped the prized wicket of Thirimanne for 41 in the 20th over. Jayawardene was the new man in and in 20 overs the Sri Lankan scoreboard read 72/3.
Post 20th over, the Lankans were struggling, their only solace was the fact that they had two very dependable batsmen on the crease. That solace didn’t last long as Jayawardene departed for 4, removed by Imran Tahir in the 24th over, to bring in Mathews. At the end of the 25th over, the Sri Lankans were looking in a lot of trouble at 87/4.
They pushed it to 105/4 at the completion of 30 overs. But Mathews fell in the 33rd over for 19, dismissed by Duminy, Parera fell in the next over, taken by tahir for 0 and the Sri Lankans were now knee deep in crisis.
Sangakkara was fighting a lone battle on the other end, but the wickets kept tumbling on the other side. Duminy plotted a double blow for the Proteas, removing Kulasekara and Kaushal in the 35th over, rocking the Sri Lankan ship at 116/8 in 35 overs.
Sangakkara was the next man to depart, the South Africans getting their man for 45, Morkel pitching in this time. At 36.2 overs, when it started raining, the Sri Lankans were at 127/9. As play resumed, Malinga was taken by Imran Tahir for 3, ending the Lankan innings at 133.