Dambulla: Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada (4/41) and spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (4/33) picked up four wickets each to set up South Africa’s five-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the first ODI here, Sunday.
Rabada inflicted the early damage while left-arm spinner Shamsi provided the late breakthroughs as the visitors bundled out the Sri Lanka for 193 under 35 overs after the hosts won the toss and opted to bat.
Off-spinner Akila Dananjaya (3/50) picked up two early wickets to give Sri Lanka hope but the touring side, who were mauled 0-2 in the Test series, recovered to reach the target in 31 overs and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Opener Quinton de Kock (47, 59b, 4×4, 1×6) and captain Faf du Plessis (47, 56b, 10×4) helped the Proteas steady their chase with a 86-run stand for the third wicket. Later, JP Duminy (53 n o, 32b, 6×4, 2×6) took South Africa home with an unbeaten half century.
Earlier, Kusal Perera (81, 72b, 11×4, 1×6) provided some respectability to Sri Lanka’s innings after the hosts were reduced to 36 for five. Kusal and Thisara Perera (49, 30b, 8×4) added 92 for the sixth wicket.
The second match of the series will be played at the same venue, Wednesday.
Brief scores
193 in 34.3 overs (Kusal Perera 81; Tabraiz Shamsi 4/33, Kagiso Rabada 4/41) lost to South Africa 196/5 in 31 overs (JP Duminy 53 n o, Faf du Plessis 47; Akila Dananjaya 3/50) by five wickets.
