Tahir still leads the way as Proteas restrict Sri Lanka. The wily 39-year-old produced an outstanding spell of leg-spin, finishing with three for 26 from his ten-over quota as the visitors were restricted to 231 in the first ODI at the Wanderers on Sunday.
The 39year-old leg-spinner produces an outstanding spell in an innings that could’ve gone badly wrong for the hosts. Imran Tahir showed his enduring worth to the Proteas by giving them some confidence again just when it seemed the enthusiastic Sri Lankans were ready to inflict further pain on them.
Anchored by an excellent fifth-wicket stand of 94 between Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva, Sri Lanka were well on their way to a good total as the South Africans lost heart after a decent start with the ball. But then Tahir floated a delivery that spun sharply away from Dhananjaya (39), who was out of his crease due to an expansive drive.
Quinton de Kock had the bails off in a flash. Another fuller ball then accounted for Kusal, who spooned a catch to extra cover. The diminutive right-hander had looked dangerously set on 60. Earlier, Tahir had also dislodged Test series hero Kusal Perera with a googly, though it has to be said the left-hander’s 33 off 36 wasn’t particularly fluent.
Brilliant fielding at midwicket from David Miller accounted for Oshada Fernando, another Test series star, after an amateurish piece of running. From a neutral perspective, it was a tragedy given how sumptuously the left-hander had played for his 49. The rest of South Africa’s bowling was mediocre, but Lungi Ngidi’s return to the international fold was a successful one. He dismissed both openers on his way to figures of 3/60.
Source: The Citizen
