South Africa pace bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel grabbed four
wickets each to lead the tourists to a 153-run win over Sri Lanka in the
first game of their two-test series. Steyn grabbed 4-45 and Morkel 4-29
as the Proteas bowled out Sri Lanka for 216 after being set a target of
370 to win. The pace duo swung the ball effectively on a Galle pitch
that usually helps spinners rather than pace bowlers. Sri Lanka slipped
badly from 110-1 overnight, when a keen contest seemed to be in the
offing with Kumar Sangakkara leading the charge. Sangakkara was the
highest scorer for Sri Lanka with 76 but after he departed, there was
little resistance. Steyn moved the ball late and all his dismissals in
the second innings came off edges, with three of them taken by
wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock and one in the slips. He was named man of
the match as he finished with a match haul of 9-99 after taking 5-54 in
the first innings. Steyn was supported well by Morkel, who did not give
away any easy runs, and claimed the last two wickets to ensure a quick
end. Steyn and Morkel justified new captain Hashim Amla's decision to
declare at tea on the fourth day, giving Sri Lanka a full four sessions
to chase the target.
South Africa, which has not lost an away series since its last tour of Sri Lanka in 2006, will wrest back the No.1 ranking in tests from Australia if it also wins the second test. Sangakkara, who was dropped by de Kock off Morkel on 65, was out to a loose shot in the first session to effectively signal the end of a fight. He pulled a short delivery from Duminy straight to Hashim Amla at short mid-wicket. Sangakkara, 58 overnight, struck one six and nine fours. Earlier, Steyn had got the early breakthrough when he had Silva caught behind with a superb low one-handed catch by de Kock. The dismissal set the tone for the day as batsmen kept edging the ball behind the stumps with the bowlers getting sharp movement with the old ball. The second test of the series will be played in Colombo from Thursday. South Africa won a preceding three-game one-day series 2-1.
other Cricket news:-
Sikandar Raza leads Zimbabwe to big win
Zimbabwe opener Sikandar Raza made sure his first one-day international century was a memorable one as he smashed seven sixes in his 141 to power the home team to an eight-wicket win and a 2-0 series lead over Afghanistan. Raza was part of a record 224-run opening partnership with Hamilton Masakadza as Zimbabwe chased down Afghanistan's total of 256-7 with ease for a 2-0 lead in the four-match series. Masakadza made 93 as Zimbabwe cruised to 257-2 in 43.3 overs. The opening partnership was the highest for any wicket for Zimbabwe in ODIs. Raza faced just 133 balls and added 11 fours to his string of sixes as he punished Afghanistan's bowling at Queens Sports Club. Afghanistan had been hopeful of leveling the series after 17-year-old Usman Ghani made his first international century opening the batting for the visitors. But Ghani's 118 was the only major contribution for Afghanistan with the next highest score 23 not out from tailender Gulbadin Naib. Raza's outstanding day began with him taking 2-25 off five overs after Zimbabwe opted to bowl first.
Masakadza and Tinashe Panyangara also picked up two wickets each as Afghanistan couldn't build on the early platform laid by Ghani. Raza and Masakadza tore into the bowling in Zimbabwe's chase, with Masakadza hitting 10 fours and a six. The pair stayed together for more than 36 overs and scored at over six runs an over to leave captain Brendan Taylor (11 not out) and Sean Williams (2 not out) to complete the easy victory with 39 balls to spare. Raza almost batted through the innings, only falling the ball before Zimbabwe secured victory and at least a draw in the series. Afghanistan is playing its first one-day series against a test-playing nation. The entire series will be contested at Bulawayo, with the remaining two games on Tuesday and Thursday.
Source-http://www.crictoday.com/news/12374-stey
http://www.crictoday.com/news/12373-sika
South Africa, which has not lost an away series since its last tour of Sri Lanka in 2006, will wrest back the No.1 ranking in tests from Australia if it also wins the second test. Sangakkara, who was dropped by de Kock off Morkel on 65, was out to a loose shot in the first session to effectively signal the end of a fight. He pulled a short delivery from Duminy straight to Hashim Amla at short mid-wicket. Sangakkara, 58 overnight, struck one six and nine fours. Earlier, Steyn had got the early breakthrough when he had Silva caught behind with a superb low one-handed catch by de Kock. The dismissal set the tone for the day as batsmen kept edging the ball behind the stumps with the bowlers getting sharp movement with the old ball. The second test of the series will be played in Colombo from Thursday. South Africa won a preceding three-game one-day series 2-1.
other Cricket news:-
Sikandar Raza leads Zimbabwe to big win
Zimbabwe opener Sikandar Raza made sure his first one-day international century was a memorable one as he smashed seven sixes in his 141 to power the home team to an eight-wicket win and a 2-0 series lead over Afghanistan. Raza was part of a record 224-run opening partnership with Hamilton Masakadza as Zimbabwe chased down Afghanistan's total of 256-7 with ease for a 2-0 lead in the four-match series. Masakadza made 93 as Zimbabwe cruised to 257-2 in 43.3 overs. The opening partnership was the highest for any wicket for Zimbabwe in ODIs. Raza faced just 133 balls and added 11 fours to his string of sixes as he punished Afghanistan's bowling at Queens Sports Club. Afghanistan had been hopeful of leveling the series after 17-year-old Usman Ghani made his first international century opening the batting for the visitors. But Ghani's 118 was the only major contribution for Afghanistan with the next highest score 23 not out from tailender Gulbadin Naib. Raza's outstanding day began with him taking 2-25 off five overs after Zimbabwe opted to bowl first.
Masakadza and Tinashe Panyangara also picked up two wickets each as Afghanistan couldn't build on the early platform laid by Ghani. Raza and Masakadza tore into the bowling in Zimbabwe's chase, with Masakadza hitting 10 fours and a six. The pair stayed together for more than 36 overs and scored at over six runs an over to leave captain Brendan Taylor (11 not out) and Sean Williams (2 not out) to complete the easy victory with 39 balls to spare. Raza almost batted through the innings, only falling the ball before Zimbabwe secured victory and at least a draw in the series. Afghanistan is playing its first one-day series against a test-playing nation. The entire series will be contested at Bulawayo, with the remaining two games on Tuesday and Thursday.
Source-http://www.crictoday.com/news/12374-stey
http://www.crictoday.com/news/12373-sika
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