Janneman Malan hit 121 and Tabraiz Shamsi claimed five wickets as South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 67 runs in a rain-hit second ODI on Saturday to level the three-match series 1-1.
The Proteas scored 283-6 in 47 overs, before Sri Lanka were bowled out for 197 in 36.4 overs, chasing a DLS revised target of 265 from 41 overs following a second rain interruption.
Keshav Maharaj led the side to the comeback victory after they lost regular skipper Temba Bavuma, who was ruled out of the series with a broken thumb.
Malan, though, remained the hero after he battled cramps in his 135-ball knock laced with nine fours and one six.
He built partnerships, including a second-wicket stand of 96 with Reeza Hendricks, who made 51, after a 90-minute delayed start to the game.
Malan and Hendricks, who was one of the three changes in South Africa’s team for this match, mixed the right dose of caution and aggression and hit seven boundaries between them.
Hendricks raised his third ODI fifty before being bowled by off-spinner Dhananjaya de Silva.
Malan reached his ton in the 43rd over as he put on an attacking partnership of 86 off 54 balls with Heinrich Klaasen to take the attack to the opposition bowlers.
Pace bowler Dushmantha Chameera broke the stand to send back Klaasen, for 43 off 27 balls, trudging back to the pavilion and got Malan lbw on the next delivery.
Sri Lanka’s reply was hit by three early wickets including two in one over by pace bowler Kagiso Rabada, who sent back Avishka Fernando for eight and Bhanuka Rajapaksa for nought.
Charith Asalanka tried to make Sri Lanka fight back with his 77 and two partnerships including a 64-run fifth-wicket stand with skipper Dasun Shanaka, who made 30.
Shamsi took down both the batsmen and innings folded soon after a quickfire 36 from Chamika Karunaratne.
The third and deciding ODI is on Tuesday at the same venue.
Photo: Isuru Sameera Peiris/Gallo Images
