Tag: Sri Lanka

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Kyle Simmonds Crowned Overall Division 1 SACA MVP

The 2025/26 domestic cricket season concludes with Western Province all-rounder Kyle Simmonds named Division 1 Overall SACA MVP. Simmonds earned…

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Liam Alder Named Overall SACA MVP for Domestic Division 2

Following the completion of all domestic fixtures, Liam Alder of the Garden Route Badgers finished at the top of the…

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TWELVE YEARS OF RESEARCH-BASED PLAYER SERVICE

Over the past 12 years, the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) has cemented its dedication to evidence-based practice through a…

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BOKAKO AND BURGER BOWL SA EMERGING TO NARROW VICTORY

Tladi Bokako and Nandre Burger shared six wickets as South Africa Emerging held off a late fightback to secure a 28-run win over Sri Lanka Emerging and go 1-0 up in their two-match four-day series late on day four in Potchefstroom on Sunday.

The pair helped the hosts bowl out the tourists for 302, chasing a victory target of 331 at Senwes Park.

Burger claimed three for 38 in 16 overs and Bokako nabbed three for 70 in 21.1 overs – the away side dismissed in 94.1 overs.

It means the Sri Lankans will now need to win the second match starting later this week in order to earn a share of the series, although they were relatively easy winners in a Triangular One-Day competition that ended a week ago when they beat University Sports South Africa (USSA) in the Final.

Their slow start to this game ultimately proved costly after the hosts amassed 382 in the first innings thanks to Matthew Breetzke, with the reply being an under-par 241.

They then restricted Shukri Conrad’s side to just 189 in the second innings and appeared to be the favourites heading into the final day after reaching stumps on day three at 145 for one.

But the South Africans managed some early blows, particularly the first one that accounted for the set Minod Bhanuka 14 runs into the morning when Bokako had him caught behind by Sinethemba Qeshile for 89 (134 balls, 12 fours).

Captain Charith Asalanka (9) and Ashen Bandara (1) then followed as Bokako again struck, along with Marco Jansen (2/58), who got rid of the former, suddenly leaving the Asians on 173 for four.

Dayyaan Galiem (1/37) tilted things more in the hosts’ favour when he had the other key man, Pathum Nissanka (47), also edging to Qeshile.

And, when Burger trapped Kamindu Mendis (17) and Chamika Karunaratne (10) leg before wicket, the end looked near – Sri Lanka slipping to 214 for seven.

A 58-run eighth-wicket stand between Mohamed Shiraz (49) and Nishan Peiris (25) had helped their side roar back, but when the stand was eventually broken, the fast bowlers wrapped up the tail to give the South Africans a morale-boosting win.

The second and final match of the tour begins in Pretoria from Thursday.

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SA EMERGING READY FOR SRI LANKA 4-DAY SERIES

The South Africa Emerging team head into a two-match four-day series against their Sri Lanka counterparts in Potchefstroom on Thursday, keen to make amends for a disappointing one-day triangular series.

Shukri Conrad’s side has shown glimpses of what they can do through the tour thus far, with some outstanding individual performances from the likes of Janneman Malan and Raynard van Tonder with the bat and Thando Ntini with the ball.

But they have not really clicked as a collective and missed out on the final, won by the tourists against the University Sports South Africa (USSA) team on Sunday.

The hosts will now be looking to make amends against a Sri Lanka side that will be further strengthened by some reinforcements and they are wary of the challenge that awaits them at Senwes Park.

“They will be stronger because they have one or two experienced guys flying in for the series and that will make it tougher for us,” coach Conrad said. “I think this team that they brought here is closer to an ‘A’ side rather than an emerging team.”

Nonetheless, the SA coach says he welcomes the tougher competition. “That is something I am extremely comfortable with because it gives our players a great opportunity to test themselves,” he explained. “And if we don’t past the test, then there are still great learnings for everyone involved.

“I want us to be playing against top opposition and this is as good a chance as our players can ask for. All in all, I have every confidence that we can play a lot better in the series.”

The one-day leg of the tour was played in Pretoria having started in early July and the team will now be looking forward to a change of venue for the first four-dayer.

Conrad continued: “We arrived in Potch on Monday after having the weekend off and we’ve been preparing ourselves well so that we can hit the ground running on Thursday. We want to be competitive in these two games, and like I did in the one-day series, I’ll be hoping to give the entire squad a go in these longer games as well.”

Reflecting on that one-day series where the South Africans managed two wins in six, Conrad said it was a good learning curve for his charges.

“It was hugely disappointing to miss out on the final,” he added. “But that was not what the series was all about, it was also about development.

“We have guys that are working on their games here and we’re trying to take them in a certain direction. Especially on the batting front where we have players we are trying to guide, there’s a certain way we want them to play and to a large extent, there have been some winnings on that front.

“But yes, it is disappointing because you want to be playing in finals but, at the end of the day, we just weren’t good enough to do that.

“In saying that, I’m happy with where the group is at. We’re now moving to a different format and we have to make sure we’re really switched on for this week.”

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DE BRUYN PUTS DOWN MARKER WITH MAIDEN TEST CENTURY

Theunis de Bruyn put down his marker for an extended run in the Standard Bank Proteas Test team with his maiden Test century on the fourth and final day of the second Test match against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Monday.

He was unable to prevent Sri Lanka from clinching the inevitable win by 199 runs and a 2-0 series victory but both he and Temba Bavuma will have gone a long way to restore credibility for South Africa’s ability to make runs on the sub-continent.

De Bruyn was eventually bowled, not offering a stroke, by Rangana Herath for 101 (232 balls, 12 fours) to be the eighth man out by which time the game was beyond saving but his fourth innings century will go down alongside other notable fourth innings centuries for the Proteas.

These include Jonty Rhodes unbeaten century in the first ever Test match between the Proteas and Sri Lanka at Morutuwa in 1993, Jacques Kallis’ maiden Test century at Melbourne in 1997, Faf du Plessis’ match-saving century at Adelaide in 2012, the centuries made by Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers in chasing down 414 for victory at Perth in 2008 and the centuries by De Villiers and Du Plessis that nearly brought about a record runs chase against India at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium in 2013.

But, taking into account the struggle that foreign batsmen have on the sub-continent, De Bruyn’s innings has a special status.

De Bruyn and Bavuma both displayed excellent technique with their footwork and decisive use of the bat that largely took the bat/pad catch and lbw out of the equation.

This was De Bruyn’s debut Test match on the sub-continent while it was only Bavuma’s fifth, one of which was a virtual wash-out in Bangladesh, and they can both take a lot out of their performances looking ahead to the next visit to India.

Bavuma contributed the majority share (63 off 98 balls, 4 fours) to a partnership of 123 that was only six short of South Africa’s sixth-wicket partnership record against Sri Lanka.

Together they were responsible for the Proteas having easily their best batting session of the series with 109 runs being scored for the loss of 2 wickets in the morning session. The result was that the Proteas were able to make their highest fourth innings total ever on the sub-continent of 290.

The Proteas now have a few days to regroup ahead of the start of the five-match ODI Series in Dambulla on Sunday.

Sri Lanka opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne was the obvious choice as both Man of the Match and Man of the Series as his consistent batting in both matches as his 356 runs at an average of 118 was an essential difference between the two sides.

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CSA ANNOUNCE ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY SQUAD

Left-arm spinner, Keshav Maharaj, has earned his maiden One-Day International (ODI) call-up to the 15-man Standard Bank Proteas squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, which was announced on Wednesday.

The squad will play three ODI’s against England starting with the first match at Headingley in Leeds on May 24th, before their first group match of the ICC Champions Trophy against Sri Lanka at the Oval on June 3.

The 26-year-old Maharaj has had an impressive debut season for the Test squad and comes into the squad to bolster the spin options alongside Imran Tahir.

Morne Morkel makes a return to the limited-overs format after nearly 10 months, adding experience to the pace bowling group featuring Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell, Chris Morris, Dwaine Pretorius and Andile Phehlukwayo.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) convener of selectors, Linda Zondi, says the selectors have picked a strong squad which covers all of the combinations and conditions on offer for the eighth edition of the eight-team event. “We have been working with this group of players for the last two seasons where our key emphasis has been consistency in selection,” Zondi commented. “That has shown in how this group has performed over the last while, which has resulted in winning three consecutive ODI series.

“We feel we have a squad that covers every scenario that we could possibly be faced with on the tour. Most importantly, every player knows and understands their role and value within the squad.

“Keshav has had an exceptional debut season for the Test side and his inclusion in the squad gives us a spinner with different skills and extra batting depth. We have seen how important it is to bat deep in ODI cricket, this option will give us that cover if needed.” 

The squad will depart for England on May 16 and will begin their preparations with two 50-over tour matches against Sussex and Northants.
Standard Bank Proteas ODI squad for three-match ODI series against England and ICC Champions Trophy: Hashim Amla (BuildNat Cape Cobras), Quinton de Kock – wk (Multiply Titans), Faf du Plessis (Multiply Titans), AB de Villiers – captain (Multiply Titans), JP Duminy (BuildNat Cape Cobras), David Miller (VKB Knights), Chris Morris (Multiply Titans),  Wayne Parnell (BuildNat Cape Cobras), Andile Phehlukwayo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kagiso Rabada (bizhub Highveld Lions), Imran Tahir (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Dwaine Pretorius (bizhub Highveld Lions), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Farhaan Behardien (Multiply Titans), Morne Morkel (Multiply Titans).

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PROTEAS GO 4-0 UP BUT THARANGA TAKES MATCH TO THE WIRE

Faf du Plessis played one of the innings of his life and then had to watch helplessly as Sri Lanka’s acting captain, Upul Tharanga, almost stole his thunder in a memorable fourth Momentum ODI at PPC Newlands on Thursday.

In the end the Standard Bank Proteas achieved what looked like a clear-cut win by 40 runs to go 4-0 up in the series and extend their winning home run to 13 matches but it was anything but that. Sri Lanka were right in the game until the start of the 44th over when Kagiso Rabada, as he has often done in his brief career, broke the menacing fifth wicket partnership of 79 runs between Sandun Weerakkody and Asela Gunaratne that sparked an astonishing collapse that saw Sri Lanka lose their last 6 wickets for 20 runs off 27 balls.

Earlier in the day Du Plessis had made the second highest score ever by a Proteas of 185 (141 balls, 16 fours and 3 sixes) – only Gary Kirsten has done better with his 188 against the United Arab Emirates at the 1996 World Cup – to set Sri Lanka what seemed an impossible victory target of 368, bearing in mind they had been unable to score even 200 in the preceding three matches.

Du Plessis became the 9th Protea to make a score of 150 or better although there have been 12 instances in all with Hashim Amla having achieved the feat 3 times and Herschelle Gibbs twice. Remarkably, all of the top five Protea batsmen in the current first-choice XI – Amla, Quinton de Kock, Du Plessis, AB de Villiers and JP Duminy – have now achieved this feat.

The Proteas’ total was also the highest ever at PPC Newlands and meant that they had made totals of 300 plus in back-to-back games at this venue this season. They had previously made 327/8 against Australia in the famous whitewash series last year.

If the Proteas thought they were as good as home at the halfway stage, Tharanga certainly had other ideas. He took the lead with his consistent partner, Niroshan Dickwella, in putting on exactly 100 in the 10 power play overs with 13 fours and 4 sixes. This compared with the 59/1 the Proteas had managed at the same stage. He went on to finish with 119 (90 balls, 11 fours and 7 sixes). He and Du Plessis finished with almost identical strike rates.

Tharanga is no stranger to this sort of performance. He and the legendary Sanath Jayasuriya put on 286 in 32 overs for the first wicket against England at Headingley in 2006 and then he and Mahela Jayawardene added 213 in 38.4 overs for the first wicket against India in 2013. On the former occasion the pair posted 133 in the first 10 overs!

The Sri Lankans stayed miles ahead of the required run rate and De Villiers had to turn to Wayne Parnell for his get out of jail card. The latter made a concerted short ball attack to remove both the No.3, Kusal Mendis, and Tharanga in the space of three deliveries in a spell of 2/8 in 3 overs and he was then backed up by Rabada with 1/19 in his three that included a dropped catch that went for tour.

It was clearly going to boil down to which side held their nerve better and it appeared to be going Sri Lanka’s way when the Proteas dropped another catch in the deep to prolong the fifth wicket partnership even further.

But the match turned back the Proteas’ way when Rabada struck, Imran Tahir got two wickets in his last over, Dwaine Pretorius also got one and then Parnell cleaned up the tail to finish with the figures of 4/58 that were highly impressive in the circumstances.

It was statistically at least one of the great games played at Newlands in this format and victory here would have meant more to Sri Lanka than their success in the T20 Series. They lifted their game to a new level against what was to all intents and purposes a full strength Proteas line-up.

Du Plessis was named Momentum Man of the Match but it was an evening when it could easily have been shared.

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FICA RESPONDS TO PCB STATEMENT REGARDING PSL FINAL IN LAHORE

The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) today responded to a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in which the PCB criticised FICA for its alleged “careless and cavalier approach” to security issues relating to the playing of the PSL final in Lahore, and stated that FICA has done great disservice to the cause of cricket in general and to Pakistan cricket.

FICA relies on advice given by expert security consultants, Eastern Star International (ESI), in relation to security risks to players and teams who may contemplate playing in what may be considered high-risk cricket environments. ESI are highly credible specialist security consultants with many years of experience working in cricket. ESI has supplied security services over several years to a number of cricket boards and international teams around the world and to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

FICA has gone through a similar process to that followed in previous years relating to players playing cricket in Pakistan. It obtained advice from ESI related to security risks to cricketers playing in the PSL final in Lahore.

FICA sent a confidential memorandum to players’ associations and to affiliated cricketers, and their agents, highlighting the advice received from ESI relating to the elevated security risk for them of playing in Pakistan. The elevated risk is in line with advice from government agencies and diplomatic missions of several countries regarding travel by foreigners to Pakistan.

FICA recognises that players play in T20 leagues around the world as individuals and that players make individual choices relating to whether or not they wish to participate in a league or match. FICA’s memorandum to players and player agents accordingly did not advise players not to participate in the PSL final in Lahore, but informed players that they do so at their own risk and that players should check any insurance cover that may apply.

Since the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore Pakistan has played bi-lateral home series matches against ICC full member countries in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for security reasons. The only full member men’s team to tour Pakistan in this time was Zimbabwe in 2015. The ICC declined to send its match officials to Pakistan to officiate in this series for security reasons. A suicide bomber detonated an explosive device outside the stadium in Lahore shortly before the 2nd ODI of the series, killing himself and a policeman.

The PCB is staging all PSL matches, except the planned final in Lahore, in the UAE for security reasons. Several months ago the PCB consulted FICA in relation to provisions of the standard player contract for the PSL. When FICA expressed possible security concerns relating to playing the final in Lahore the PCB was not responsive to FICA on this issue.

“Players around the world from affiliated countries have always looked to FICA to provide them with information relating to security risks of playing in various parts of the world”, said Tony Irish, FICA’s Executive Chairman. “It is our responsibility to provide this information, which we obtain from highly credible security experts, so that players can make informed decisions.”

“We have great sympathy for fans and players in Pakistan who have not been able to consistently watch international teams and high quality foreign players playing cricket in their country for several years. FICA has no vested interest in this matter and is completely independent of the PSL. We consider the PSL a good opportunity for players and we would like to see it succeed. However the safety and security of players is, and will continue to be, a high priority matter for FICA.”

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RABADA TAKES TEN TO HAD PROTEAS NEWLANDS VICTORY

South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Test series by claiming the last six wickets before lunch on the fourth morning at Newlands as Sri Lanka continued their ill-disciplined ways, a Test side irredeemably trapped in limited-overs mode. On the evidence of their tour of England last summer, and now here, in a changing cricketing world their appetite for the Test game cannot entirely be taken for granted.

The chief beneficiary of Sri Lanka’s faulty mind-set was fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who took four more wickets to finish with 6 for 55 and ten in the match for next to nothing.

Rabada’s graceful fast bowling has been one of the delights of the past year. That said, he is too talented and level headed to become over-excited about the praise that will fall upon him. A gentle shake of the head at a gimme wicket after Dinesh Chandimal chipped a stray delivery to square leg served as the perfect image of a morning when several gifts were bestowed upon him. His realism did him great credit.

Sri Lanka had anticipated a possible Test return to South Africa next year, but suggestions are growing that they might be jilted in favour of India. A 206-run win in Port Elizabeth has been followed by a 282-run margin in Cape Town. Big countries like to win; they also like to feel they have been in a fight.

Far from being a surface that was unfairly doctored to home team demands, this Newlands pitch possessed enough pace and bounce to provide captivating cricket and reward good batsmen and bowlers alike. Vibrant cricket is interesting cricket. Concentration needed other companions, not least cricketing nous and bloody-mindedness. Sri Lanka, overly given to limited-overs habits, were not up to it.

Rabada has looked a grand fast bowler in the making ever since he made his mark in Test cricket in South Africa’s home series against England, his action smooth, his development fast and his demeanour underlining that successful fast bowling does not necessarily have to come with glares and curses.

Sri Lanka, resuming on 130 for 4, retained three specialist batsmen as they sought to delay South Africa’s victory. All tossed their wickets aside like picture cards on top of a trump. Within 40 minutes, Rabada had dismissed not only Chandimal, but Upul Tharanga and the captain Angelo Mathews.

If anybody still wondered why Tharanga, a one-day opener, is carded in a Test to follow a group of ingénues and bat at No 7, his innings provided the answer. Met by a posse of close fielders, Tharanga struck three of his first balls for four with the air of a man who had no intention of hanging around. His downfall came in Rabada’s next over when he cut at a wide one which did not get up and under-edged to the keeper.

Rabada’s next two wickets did have intrinsic worth. Mathews’ attempt to drive a back-of-a-length ball of the back foot was exposed by challenging pace and bounce. And the dismissal of Suranga Lakmal was excellent: two hostile short balls in a row, the first of them fended uncertainly to short leg, the second deflecting off the glove to the wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. Even then, with four wickets in a spell, Rabada’s response was gentle.

Amid all this mayhem, Kyle Abbott’s final Test could hardly have been more commonplace. Abbott pounded a challenging line, but to no avail: wicketless in the match.

Rangana Herath collected an unbeaten 35 while South Africa awaited the kill. It came with de Kock’s stumping of Lahiru Kumara as he made room to drive Keshav Maharaj through the off side and, finally, the splaying of Nuwan Pradeep’s stumps by Vernon Philander. And Johannesburg is next, the most demanding test of all

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DE VILLIERS STEPS DOWN AT TEST CAPTAIN

AB de Villiers has decided to step down as captain of the Standard Bank Proteas Test team with immediate effect.

de Villiers was appointed in January following Hashim Amla’s resignation, and led the team in two Test matches against England before injury forced him to miss the series against New Zealand and Australia at the beginning of the 2016/2017 season.

Commenting on his decision, de Villiers said: “The interests of the team must always outweigh the interests of any individual, including me. It was a fantastic honour for me to be asked to captain the Test side but I have missed two series and I am still in doubt for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. Following the squad’s outstanding performances in Australia, it is clearly in the greater interests of the team that Faf du Plessis should be confirmed as the permanent Test captain.

“I have known Faf for almost 20 years, ever since we played in the same school side at Afrikaans Hoer Seunskool, and he will have my unequivocal support if he is asked to continue leading this exciting Proteas Test team.”

de Villiers has been ruled out of the three-match Sunfoil Test series against Sri Lanka after failing to recover sufficiently from an elbow injury.

Proteas team manager, Dr Mohammed Moosajee, explained: “AB’s left elbow is much improved but is still regaining the last few degrees of straightening. Fitness to play requires a full range of elbow movement and this may take another 3-4 weeks to achieve.

“He will be unavailable for the Test series against Sri Lanka and will target a return for the Momentum ODI series starting at the end of January.”

De Villiers has been out of action since the Caribbean Premier League in July and was expected to be fit for the Sri Lanka Tests but still needs another three to four weeks before being declared fully fit. He will target the ODIs later in January 2017, a format in which he remains captain, for a comeback.

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DISAPPOINING FINISH FOR MOMENTUM PROTEAS

The Momentum Proteas bowed out of the World Twenty20 on a disappointing note after a poor batting collapse lead to a 10-run defeat against Sri Lanka in Bangalore on Monday.

In a televised match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the South Africans did a good job to restrict theSri Lankans to 114/7. Marizanne Kapp and Sune Luus grabbed two wickets apiece, despite Chamari Atapattu’s inspiring captains knock of  52 (49 balls, 5 fours, 1 six).

Medium-pacer Kapp picked up 2/17 in her four overs, while spinner Luus, the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, managed 2/20 in three overs as the Proteas women restricted their opponents excellently.

The second highest scorer after the Sri Lankan skipper was Prasadani Weerakkody with 15. However, the South African women let themselves down badly. They failed to cash in on their prolific start handed to them by openers Dane van Niekerk (24 off 31 balls) and Trisha Chetty (26 off 25).

Instead they found themselves coming up short on 104/7 after poor batting saw them lose 3 wickets for 2 runs and then 7 for 52 in total. Van Niekerk and Chetty put on 50 together in nine overs, before the former was run-out by the Atapattu and Weerakkody combination.

Captain Mignon du Preez was out for a four-ball duck, when she was trapped leg before wicket by her opposite number Atapattu, while Chetty fell the same way to Eshani Kaushalya – the first three wickets falling within the space of seven balls. Unfortunately that knocked the stuffing out of the South Africans, with the next best scorer being Kapp with 14.

It was disappointingly the third loss in four games for the Momentum Proteas as they ended the competition placed fourth in Group A. Du Preez admitted the batting let South Africas down.

“We had a good start but we lost it in the middle order,” she said. “We have been struggling with our batting in the whole tournament. This is something we need to work on and come back stronger.

“We have a strong batting line-up, we knew we could chase down the runs. But that did not happen.”

 

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