Dananjaya skittles out S. Africa as Sri Lanka win one-day finale

South Africa’s team members pose for photographs with the trophy - Reuters

AFP: Akila Dananjaya claimed six scalps and picked up widespread tributes as Sri Lanka hammered South Africa by 178 runs in the final one-day international on Sunday. While the result did not stop South Africa taking the series 3-2, Dananjaya’s performance established the pint-sized 24-year-old as one of the most threatening spinners on the international circuit. 

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews hit 97 off 97 balls as his side made 299 for eight off their 50 overs. Dananjaya then ripped through the South Africa batting lineup as they aimed for the biggest target score taken on by a visiting country at Colombo’s R. Premadasa stadium. 

The tourists were all out for 121 two balls short of 25 overs. Dananjaya, who took six for 29, became one of just four spin bowlers with two six-wicket hauls in one-day internationals. 

South African skipper Quinton de Kock made 54, with seven fours and a six, before he was bowled by Dananjaya. 

“Akila knows what he’s doing with the ball. It’s hard to take on someone like this when he has so many variations up his sleeve,” said de Kock, who got precious little support. 

“We have batted well against him in this series, but today he bowled really well.” Dananjaya’s spin accounted for four of South Africa’s top five batsmen -- de Kock, Aiden Markram, Reeza Hendricks and Heinrich Klaasen. Apart from the captain, they managed just 23 runs between them. 

Niroshan Dickwella set the tone for a determined batting display by Sri Lanka, hitting 43 off 65 balls before Mathews proved he is becoming a force again after a series of injury layoffs. 

Mathews also started slowly, but his final 47 runs came off just 31 balls.  “This was a performance we were looking for but it came in the last match. 

“If we had been like that in the first three games things could have been a lot different,” said Mathews. 

Despite the fightback in the last two matches of the series, Mathews insisted that the team are still “a work in progress” as they head for the World Cup in England next year.  “We have got about 20 more games so we are looking to get better. We want to make the most of it.” After South Africa lost both Test matches in Sri Lanka, de Kock said it was a relief to win the one-day series. “It is never easy coming here and winning in Sri Lanka.” South Africa’s tour ends with a T20 game against the Sri Lankans at the same Colombo stadium on Tuesday.

Chandimal returns to Sri Lanka T20 squad after ban

AFP: Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal returned to their Twenty20 squad Thursday after serving an international ban for breaching the spirit of the game. 

Chandimal was included in a 15-member squad for the one-off T20 that will round off South Africa’s tour of the nation on Tuesday in Colombo, Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement. 

The 28-year-old missed the two-Test series, which Sri Lanka won, and was out of the first four one-day internationals. The fifth and final ODI was on Sunday, but Chandimal was not included in the squad for that match. 

But he was included in the T20 squad and will play in the day-night game on Tuesday. 

Chandimal was banned by the International Cricket Council along with Coach Chandika Hathurusingha and Manager Asanka Gurusinha for refusing to take to the field for two hours during the second Test against the West Indies in June. It was shortly after Chandimal was accused of tampering with the ball. The Sri Lanka captain was subsequently banned from the third Test against the West Indies and given a fine equal to his match fees. He was later banned for another two Tests and four ODIs after pleading guilty to violating the spirit of the game. Sri Lanka T20 squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis, Thisara Perera, Shehan Jayasuriya, Shehan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Dinesh Chandimal, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshan Sandakan, and Binura Fernando.