South Africa led by the stand-in skipper Chloe Tryon suffered another heart-breaking defeat by 23 runs in their previous encounter against India. The return of the regular skipper, Laura Wolvaardt comes in as a significant boost in their bid to sign off the Tri-nation series on a high against the home side, Sri Lanka. Laura Wolvaardt missed their previous game against India due to illness.
Both sides made a few changes to their sides. South Africa made as many as three changes: Seshnie Naidu replaced Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khakha replaced Nonkululeko Mlaba, and skipper Laura Wolvaardt replaced Sune Luus in their starting 11. The home side, on the other hand, made a couple of changes. Inoshi Priyadharshani replaced Inoka Ranaweera, and Manudi Nanayakkara replaced Kavisha Dilhari in their starting 11, for the 6th and final game of the league stages in the Tri-nation series.
Annerie Dercksen and Chloe Tryon’s rescue act powers South Africa to 315/7
The South African openers Tazmin Brits and skipper Laura Wolvaardt got their side off to a solid start with a 68-run opening partnership. Dewmi Vihanga broke the stand, by sending Tazmin Brits (38 off 48 balls) back to the pavilion in the 14th over of the innings to provide the first breakthrough for Sri Lanka.
The visitors, South Africa, suffered a collapse as they lost their next four wickets for just 17 runs. A storming comeback from the Sri Lankan bowlers reduced South Africa to 85/5 in the 20th over of the innings. Annerie Dercksen joined Nondumiso Shangase at the crease, and the duo led some sort of a recovery with a much-needed 42-run partnership for the 6th wicket to take them closer to the 130-run mark.
Skipper Chamari Athapaththu picked up the wicket of Nondumiso Shangase (18 off 34 balls) in the 29th over of the innings to provide the 6th breakthrough for her side. Chloe Tryon joined Annerie Dercksen at the crease and the pair stitched a massive 112-run partnership for the 7th wicket to take their side closer to the 250-run mark. Annerie Dercksen took the aggressor’s route and completed her maiden ODI century (104 off 84 balls). Manudi Nanayakkara broke the ominous stand by sending Annerie Dercksen back to the pavilion in the 44th over of the innings to provide the much-needed 7th breakthrough for the home side.
South Africa eventually posted a massive total of 315/9 in their quota of 50 overs, on the back of a counterattacking 66-run partnership for the 8th wicket between Chloe Tryon (74 off 51 balls) and Nadine de Klerk (32* off 19 balls). Chloe Tryon completed her 13th half-century in the ODI format.
The young 19-year-old off-spinner Dewmi Vihanga (9-0-43-5) was the stand-out performer with the ball, claiming her maiden five-wicket haul in the ODI format. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu (10-0-70-2), Inoshi Priyadharshani (10-0-46-0), and Sugandika Kumari (10-0-57-0) were impressive with the ball for Sri Lanka.
Chloe Tryon spins a web with her maiden five-wicket haul and hat-trick
Chasing a massive target of 316, the Sri Lankan openers Hasini Perera and Vishmi Gunaratne got their side off to a positive start with a 52-run opening partnership. Chloe Tryon broke the stand, by sending Hasini Perera (30 off 26 balls) back to the pavilion in the 10th over of the run chase to provide the first breakthrough for South Africa. Vishmi Gunaratne soon followed her back to the pavilion in the 14th over of the run chase to provide the 2nd breakthrough for the Proteas.
Skipper Chamari Athapaththu joined Harshitha Samarawickrama at the crease, and the duo led some sort of a recovery with a crucial 56-run partnership for the 3rd wicket to take them closer to the 130-run mark. Seshnie Naidu broke the stand, by sending Harshitha Samarawickrama (33 off 38 balls) in the 26th over of the run chase to provide the 3rd breakthrough for South Africa.
Another crucial 36-run partnership for the 4th wicket between Nilakshika Silva and skipper Chamari Athapaththu took them past the 150-run mark. Ayabonga Khakha got the big scalp of the opposition skipper Chamari Athapaththu (52 off 57 balls) back to the pavilion in the 30th over of the run chase to provide the 4th breakthrough for the visitors.
Proteas bowlers pulled the trigger and wrapped the Sri Lankan innings at 239, with 43 balls to spare. Sri Lanka lost their last 6 wickets for just 79 runs. As a result, the home side fell 76 runs short of the target. Anushka Sanjeewani (43* off 32 balls) stayed unbeaten throughout the innings but couldn’t get her side over the line. Dewmi Vihanga (16 off 16 balls) also showed glimpses of her talent with the bat.
Chloe Tryon was the stand-out performer (8-1-34-5) with the ball, claiming her maiden five-wicket haul for her side in the format. Maine Smit (8-0-35-1), Ayabonga Khakha (6-0-30-2), Seshnie Naidu (5-0-40-1), and Nondumiso Shangase (6-0-26-0) were impressive with the ball for their side.
Chloe Tryon was awarded the Player of the Match for her exceptional all-round performance, scoring 74 off 51 balls with the bat and returning with brilliant match-figures of 8-1-34-5 in her spell with the ball for her side, playing a pivotal role in helping South Africa, sign off the Tri-Nation Series on a high with a dominating win.
