RSA VS SL - 3rd T20I, Sri Lanka tour of South Africa, 2019

Sri Lanka's free fall continues. Their horror run in white ball cricket refuses to end. But SA after the Test series loss have managed to turn the tide and how. They rested a few top players and still managed to romp home in all the 8 LOIs. Well deserved for the hosts. And this is Kumar Abhisekh Das whisking off to get some well deserved rest alongside Raju Peethala and Naga.

JP Duminy: Certainly is pleasing to win 3-0. Was nice to get over the line in the first game. We probably set the game up in the first 10 overs and explode in the last 10. We didn't execute that well in the first game. Individuals have stood up and stepped up to the plate at the highest level. It is a confidence booster as far as the shoulder is concerned. It is important to have a good support staff around you. We still got a couple of weeks of domestic cricket left before the World Cup. You always want to perform the best for your country.

Reeza Hendricks, Player of the Series: It has been a dry couple of days after the ODI series. But quite pleased with the T20Is. It was a good team performance. Just happy I could contribute for the team. I thought I had to go for it with a few overs remaining. Dwaine played really well. He made it really easy for me. Quite pleased overall.

Dwaine Pretorius, Man of the Match: I really enjoyed the opportunity. Grateful for that. At the end of the day, it is important that the team wins. I just look to keep the score ticking. Our top-order has been phenomenal. JP cleared the boundary pretty easily. I am just grateful for the opportunity and for getting the chance to bat at three.

Lasith Malinga: I think this kind of wicket, we wanted them to score 170 or 180. But they had a good partnership and things got away from us. As a captain, I wanted breakthroughs. We didn't get wickets in the ODIs and T20Is. But when we batted we lost one wicket after the other. Home conditions help them. They know the conditions exactly. They have talented players as well and that is why they have been successful as well. All the players need to analyze what they need to do going forward. The Test Series was a plus point. Isuru Udana was the plus point in the ODIs and T20Is for us.

Earlier in the day, South Africa on the back of fifties from Hendricks and Pretorius managed to scale a total close to 200. The hosts started off on a sedate note before going bonkers in the second half of the innings. Skipper Duminy also chipped in with a quick cameo to propel his team to a strong total.

Clean sweep in the ODIs, clean sweep in the T20Is now. SA are on a roll. And Lanka on a free fall. Sri Lanka once again fell prey to the run rate and lost too many wickets. By the time, the heavens opened up they were 6 down and well behind the DLS. They were 42 for no loss but then suddenly a barrage of wickets pulled them back. The rains came in at the score of 111 for 6 and the innings was reduced to 17-overs with a target of 183. SA though made short work after the rain break to end the innings at 137. Phehlukwayo was the wrecker-in-chief with a four-fer to his credit.

Lutho Sipamla to Lakmal, out Bowled!! Length delivery hits the top of off and that is it. All over. Another clean sweep for the hosts. SA win by 45 runs (DLS). Lakmal went for the slog again and missed it to complete the formality. Lakmal b Lutho Sipamla 0(3)

Lutho Sipamla to Lakmal, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Lutho Sipamla to Lakmal, no run, length delivery outside off and Lakmal trying to slog it away on to the on-side, misses it

Lutho Sipamla to Lakmal, no run, length delivery outside off and Lakmal misses trying to slog it. The chase has fizzled out all so quickly after the departure of Udana

Jeffrey Vandersay, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Lutho Sipamla to Dananjaya, out Caught by Markram!! Looks to slog it, big top-edge and the man at long-on comes in to take it. Another one goes. Last wicket remains now. Length delivery and Dananjaya wanted to biff the ball away, only managed a mishit and was taken. Dananjaya c Markram b Lutho Sipamla 9(11) [4s-1]

Lutho Sipamla to Dananjaya, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Lutho Sipamla [1.0-0-22-0] is back into the attack

Suranga Lakmal, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Phehlukwayo to Malinga, out Caught by Chris Morris!! Slices a slower delivery and has been taken by the man at deep cover, who ran in a few yards to take it easily. That was full and slower, Malinga backed away and sliced it but never got enough power behind it. SA closing out the game here. Malinga c Chris Morris b Phehlukwayo 0(4)

Phehlukwayo to Malinga, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Phehlukwayo to Malinga, no run, fuller delivery at the base of the sticks and Malinga fails to wood it away. Only a bottom edge on to it

Phehlukwayo to Malinga, no run, length delivery outside off and Malinga looks to swing it away, misses it as it angled in