END OF OVER:31 | 10 Runs | SA: 196/5 | RR: 6.32
- Jean-Paul Duminy53 (32b)
- Wiaan Mulder14 (11b)
- Lakshan Sandakan8-0-74-1
- Suranga Lakmal6-0-37-1
Hope you enjoyed our coverage. Hope to have your company come Wednesday for the second ODI. Remember that will be a day-night game. Do check your local listings. Until then, it's goodbye from Akshay and me, Shashank. If you missed any part of the game, you can dig into Firdose Moonda's match bulletin that will be updated very shortly. Cheers!
Join us shortly for the post-match presentations
Faf du Plessis, the winning captain: Feels much better to be chatting as a winning captain. We spoke of the chasing record. In day games, the first 15 overs, the seamers will always have an opportunity to take wickets. We thought the surface will stay the same whole day. The breeze was a big challenge, but past experience of playing in Hambantota helped. I thought the guys had decent plans with the wind. Test series we didn't play well, new group of players for the ODIs. I also thought we've learnt lessons, had good discussions and putting pressure on their spinners by taking a few risks. Someone like JP and all the batsmen, did very well. Lots of cricket left, we're looking forward to it.
Angelo Mathews, the Sri Lanka captain: Disappointed, wasn't the best day but we have four more games to bounce back. The way Kusal and Thisara fought back was great. 250 plus would've helped us give a good fight, they bowled and batted well. They've always had a very good bowling line-up, have been a threat wherever they've played. We need to bat better with the new ball. Bowling us out in 34 overs was disappointing, we may have got to 230-240 had we batted through.
Tabraiz Shamsi chats after his four-for. He is the Player of the Match The fast bowlers were exceptional, their hard work made my job easier. The wind was a major factor, you had to see which angles and lines to bowl. It's been good bowling here, this pitch didn't spin much though. But whatever the surface, you have to go out and do the job. Credit to our support staff group
JP Duminy on his half-century and a comprehensive win: "We've been talking of taking positive actions irrespective of situations. There are a few demons that go on when you walk out and think of taking these positive actions. We can take a lot of confidence out of today. We can still learn, he we can adapt to this positive mindset. Rabada was saying it was nice to see some nicks after the Test series, there was something in the wicket. The seamers utilised it well. It was South African lengths we were looking to bowl and nick the guys out. There was something in it for the seamers, spinners got some turn later. This was a nice wicket, had something in it for the bowlers throughout.
Mustafa Moudi: "Just read a comment regarding the Lunch Break during the 2nd innings being unfair and needs to be rectified. Cant see the rules changing anytime soon but a temporary solution for the matter could be sending a Night -Watchman if any wicket falls before the break."
Robert Brown: "A flogging in 31 overs, and spin never brought them undone, took bowlers on and made a mess of them." -- You nailed it, mate. That is exactly what it was today.
4.02pm Sri Lanka may have picked up five wickets, but let it be said here: South Africa have steam-rolled themselves to victory. The noteworthy aspect: the manner in which Faf, Duminy and de Kock - three ODI lynchpins - went about playing spin. The first two threw their wickets away to spin after doing all the hard work, but there was never a doubt about the end result, once the heavy lifting was done by the pair during the course of a 112-run stand.
For the first time on tour, Sri Lanka's spinners were countered superbly, one for which they had no answers to. Sri Lanka would eventually rue their top order meltdown that had them 36 for 5 at one stage. That they still managed to make a fist of this was thanks to a counter-attacking stand between the Pereras - Kusal and Thisara. If today was anything to go by, we should be in for an exciting ODI series.
South Africa one hit away from their first win on tour
END OF OVER:30 | 5 Runs | SA: 186/5 (8 runs required from 20 overs, RR: 6.20, RRR: 0.40)
- Wiaan Mulder9 (7b)
- Jean-Paul Duminy48 (30b)
- Suranga Lakmal6-0-37-1
- Lakshan Sandakan7-0-64-1
END OF OVER:29 | 9 Runs | SA: 181/5 (13 runs required from 21 overs, RR: 6.24, RRR: 0.61)
- Jean-Paul Duminy47 (29b)
- Wiaan Mulder5 (2b)
- Lakshan Sandakan7-0-64-1
- Suranga Lakmal5-0-32-1