 South Africa take on Sri Lanka in the fifth match of the series, leading
3-1 so far. They won the series after winning the first three matches in a row
and then went into the fourth game yesterday without too many of their frontline
players.
The home team still managed to get to 299 and should have defended the total
but for the batting skills late in the order by Thisara Perera, who scored
a 44-ball 69 to see the visitors home.
Click for Live Score Card of South Africa Vs Sri Lanka
Earlier, South Africa were helped by the batting of Graeme Smith, who
came back into form with a 68 and AB de Villiers who continued his good run
of form with another 96. It came only off 76 balls.
In reply, T Dilshan made sure that he showed the selectors that he can get
going as well and made 87 before Dinesh Chandimal and Perera sealed the
side's fate with the superb knock at the end of the match.
The buzz is that Sri Lankan cricket board may be looking to change the captains
and that Mahela Jayawardene has been offered the job. This would have spurred
Dilshan on and there couldn't have been a better reply - a smashing near-100 and
a victory to reduce the series margin.
Of course, it must be said that South Africa did go into the game without the
presence of Dale Steyn and that is the one thing that they will want
to change around in the fifth match. Steyn may get a go but the chances are
that Morne Morkel could be allowed a break this time.
The batting for South Africa could remain the same, although there may be a
chance that the skipper may want to shuffle the batting order. Someone like
Faff du Plessis may get a chance up the order whereas Robin Peterson
may also get a chance to bat.
Johan Botha, who hasn't had a game so far this series could be tried out as well.
Sri Lanka will want to go into the game with the same line-up as the one that
won only their second match on the tour. They will look to make sure they can
get going with the bat as well as they had in the previous two games.
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