by Rex Clementine  

Sri Lanka have never been short of cricketing talent. The problem has been with how players manage stardom. This bilateral series against South Africa has presented a whole bunch of new stars and this should be the base with which the selectors will be looking to build the side for the future. Sri Lanka completed a comprehensive 78 run win over South Africa yesterday at RPS to clinch the three-match series. It was a very good effort against a fifth ranked South Africa and it is the first time the Sri Lankans have beaten a side ranked in top five since 2014.

South Africa were in danger of being bowled pout for their lowest total against Sri Lanka – 121. But Keshav Maharaj and Tarbraiz Shamsi added 23 runs for the last wicket after the Proteas were reduced to 102 for nine. Their stand helped the tourists to salvage some pride. Nevertheless, the hosts would enjoy the win. It has been a real struggle for them in limited over cricket and under Dasun Shanaka there is new found hope.

Not often you see South Africa banking on spin. When the Proteas came on their first tour to Sri Lanka, they had a lone spinner in Pat Symcox. But yesterday, the spin quartet of Shamsi, Maharaj, George Linde and Aiden Markram sent down 40 overs. It was such a dominating performance by the spinners on a used wicket.

Run making was not all that easy as Sri Lanka slumped to 166 for eight. But they hanged in there and managed to score 203 and once they crossed the 200 mark, South Africa were going to play catch up.

What a find Charith Asalanka has been for the team. The former under-19 captain was expected to make his ODI debut last year, but a knee surgery put that off the track. Better late than never and he is going to have a massive impact moving forward, provided he remains grounded.

Asalanka from the rural Elpitiya has a good head on his shoulders. He has been excellent with the bat holding the innings together when wickets were falling at regular intervals.

Asalanka had posted 72 and 77 in the last two games and his 47 yesterday was worth in gold. Not only is he an excellent batsman, he has fine temperament and good game awareness too. In four years down the line, he could go onto lead Sri Lanka.

Army’s Maheesh Theekshana was the hero with the ball claiming four wickets on debut including a wicket off his first ball in international cricket. Theekshana bowls with a similar action to that of Ajantha Mendis and his bowling coach at Army is Mendis himself.

It was danger man Janneman Malan who became his first victim as Dhananjaya de Silva took a good catch at slip.

Dushmantha Chameera too had a good game. First, he contributed with 29 runs when Sri Lanka badly needed some runs after a top order had collapsed. Following his career best score, Chameera was on the money with the new ball claiming two wickets. He had Aiden Markram caught by Dhananjaya at first slip and then produced a peach of a delivery to dismiss Reeza Hendricks knocking off the top of off-stump. He was named Man of the Match while Hasaranga was Player of the Series.