SL vs SA 1st T20I Commentary - Colombo (10 September 2021)

SIX! HUGE! A full toss, on the pads. Chamika Karunaratne hangs back and flicks it over the mid-wicket fence for a maximum. That is a top strike.

A slower, length ball, outside off. Chamika Karunaratne stays back and looks to pull it away but misses. The ball ends up with the keeper.

FOUR! EDGY! A full-length ball, on off. Chamika Karunaratne throws his bat at it. The ball takes the outside edge and goes towards third man. Boundary.

A full toss and on off. Chamika Karunaratne pulls it across the line towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

A length ball, on off. Chandimal looks to pull it away. The ball takes the top edge and flies towards short third man but it falls short. The batters take a single.

A length ball, on off. Pushed to cover for a single. South Africa win by 28 runs.

A low full toss, on off. Chamika Karunaratne works it towards long off for a single.

On a length, outside off. Chandimal hangs back and punches it to long off for another single.

Play and a miss! A full-length ball, outside off. Chamika Karunaratne hangs back and looks to heave it away but misses. The ball beats the outside edge.

WIDE! A length ball, wide outside off. Chamika Karunaratne leaves it alone. Wide called.

On a length, around off. Chamika Karunaratne pushes it to sweeper cover for a single.

Full and on off. Chandimal plays it back to the bowler.

Full-length ball, outside off. Chandimal slashes it to point.

A length ball, on middle. Chandimal flicks it through mid-wicket for a couple.

NOT OUT! A length ball, on off. Chandimal tucks it to mid on and takes off for a single. The fielder collects the ball and throws it at the non-striker's end. Dwaine Pretorius guides the ball onto the stumps. He puts in an appeal for a run out. The umpire takes it upstairs to confirm. The replays roll in and show the batter was well inside the crease.

A length ball, on off. Chandimal pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

On a length, outside off. Chamika Karunaratne hangs back and cuts it to point.

On a length, around off. Chamika Karunaratne stays back and pulls it through mid-wicket for a single.

Full and on off. Chandimal drives it to cover.

OUT! CLEANED UP! Anrich Nortje comes back into the attack and strikes on his very first delivery. He bowls a slower one, full and on middle. Dhananjaya de Silva stays back and looks to push it to the off side but misses. The ball goes through and castles the stumps. Sri Lanka slip further.

Full and on the pads. Chamika Karunaratne flicks it to mid-wicket for a single.

A length ball, on off. Dinesh Chandimal makes room and slashes it to mid off. The batters take a single.

CLOSE! A tough return catch for Anrich Nortje. A slower length ball, on off. Chamika Karunaratne hits it hard back to the bowler. Anrich Nortje looks to grab it but there was much pace on it. The ball spills out onto the pitch.

A full-length ball, on off. Chamika Karunaratne punches it to cover but straight to the man.

SIX! BANG! A full-length ball, on middle and off. Chamika Karunaratne gets under it and smokes it over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

DROPPED AND FOUR! A full-length ball, around middle and leg. Chandimal makes room and flicks it uppishly towards deep mid-wicket. Heinrich Klaasen misjudges the ball in the deep. The ball goes over him and into the boundary. This is the second time Dwaine Pretorius created an opportunity but the fielders made a mess of it both the times.

A length ball, on off. Chandmal pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a couple.

A length ball, on the pads. Chandimal flicks it to square leg for a single.

On a length, around off. Hasaranga plays it back to the bowler.

OUT! CAUGHT! And finally, Dwaine Pretorius gets his first wicket. He serves a slower full-length ball, around off. Hasaranga looks to go big but this one proved to be a costly one. He lifts it towards long off. Reeza Hendricks was there in the deep, who made the catch look so easy.

WIDE! A slower full-length ball, down leg. Dhananjaya de Silva stays back and looks to flick it away but misses. Wide called.

On off, Dhananjaya de Silva pushes it to cover for a single. 9 runs and a wicket off the over.

FOUR! Good shot! A full ball, on middle. Dinesh Chandimal makes room and comes down the track. Hits it over the bowler's head for a boundary.

50 up for Dinesh Chandimal, he is keeping the hopes alive in that dugout! This one was full and on middle, flicked to mid-wicket for a single.

Another single as this is drilled down to wide of long on for a single.

A full ball, on middle. Dinesh Chandimal smashes it hard and straight on the non-striker's stump. Bjorn Fortuin gets down and gets his hand out on its way but the umpire is not interested to take it up. 

Around off, pushed to covers for a single.

OUT! TIMBER! South Africa strike every time a partnership goes on to build. Bjorn Fortuin steams and serves it full and angling on middle. This was very full and quicker. Dasun Shanaka is too late to get his bat down and the ball sneaks and disturbs the stumps. 

Serves a length ball, on middle. Dasun Shanaka nudges it to mid-wicket for a single.

Again on middle, a fuller ball, flicked to mid-wicket for a single.

Serves it short and outside off. Dasun Shanaka gets across the line and looks to paddle scoop but misses. The keeper does well to get some gloves on it. It would have been a certain boundary.

DROPPED! A short ball, on middle. Dasun Shanaka pulls it flat and towards deep square leg. The fielder in the deep dives forward but spills it out. Single taken. 

DROPPED! AGAIN! This was a hard chance though! A flatter ball, outside off. Dinesh Chandimal looks to cut but the ball stays a bit low. Gets an underedge to the keeper who fails to catch it. A single taken as the ball rolls on the off side. 

A shorter ball, outside off. Dasun Shanaka works it to backward point for two.

Flatter and outside off. Dinesh Chandimal slaps it to deep covers for one.

Very full and angling on the pads, this is pushed back to the bowler.

Gives a bit of air to this one and bowls it outside off. Dasun Shanaka waits for the ball and dabs it to short third man for a single. 

Touch fuller, on off. Dinesh Chandimal defends it in front of covers and takes a quick single.

An arm delivery, on middle, it skids through the surface. Dasun Shanaka taps it in time to point. A bit late in his shot and that could have disturbed the stumps.

Around off, pushed to covers for a single.

OUT! TAKEN! Tabraiz Shamsi is pumped up! The dot balls were building and someone had to go for a big shot! A full ball, on middle, it lands and spins away from the left-hander. Charith Asalanka gets on his knee and goes for the slog sweep. He gets more elevation than distance. Ends up hitting it straight in the hands of Dwaine Pretorius who takes a good low catch at deep square leg. Sri Lanka in deep trouble now. 

Around off, pushed down to long off for a single.

A shorter ball, outside off. Dinesh Chandimal cuts it to point for a single.

Fuller, quicker and on middle. Dasun Shanaka flicks it wide of deep mid-wicket and takes two.

FOUR! Much needed! A full ball, on off. Dasun Shanaka steps down the track and looks to go downtown but ends up splicing it over covers. The long off fielder runs across and puts a dive but fails to flick it away from the ropes. 

Fuller and on middle, flicked to mid-wicket for a couple. 86 needed in 48 balls.

Full and on middle. Dinesh Chandimal leans and flicks it to mid-wicket for a single.

Removes the pace from this one as he sees Charith Asalanka advances down the track. The ball spins into the batter and hits him high on the pads.

Full and outside off, dragged to mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Good shot! A full ball, on middle. Dinesh Chandimal goes inside out and drives this one through covers for a boundary.

Darted on the pads. Dinesh Chandimal turns it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

THREE WIDES! Full and down the leg side. Charith Asalanka misses his flick. The ball goes through the keeper's leg to fine leg. They take two runs. Wide called.

A flatter ball, on middle, tucked on the leg side for a single. 96 needed in 54 balls.

Short and on off. Asalanka punches it to point for a single.

SIX! Out of here! Tossed up, full and on off. Dinesh Chandimal comes down the track and reaches to the pitch of the ball. He muscles it over the long off fence for a maximum.

Flighted and on off. Chandimal flicks it to mid-wicket. The batters take a single.

Loopy ball, around middle. The ball turns away. Asalanka hangs back and throws his bat at it. The ball takes the top edge and goes towards Kagiso Rabada at backward point. Who puts in a forward dive but the ball lands just in front of him.

In the air... Safe! Loopy ball, on off. Chandimal hangs back and lifts it towards long on. The ball meets the fielder in the deep on a bounce. They take one.

CLOSE! Short and outside off. Asalanka looks to cut it away but only manages to get a thin outside edge. Quinton de Kock drops it behind the wickets. It was a tough one. Charith Asalanka gets a lifeline.

Full and on off. Asalanka reverse sweeps it to short third man. Tabraiz Shamsi makes a good stop there.

LEG BYE! Floated full and down leg. Asalanka looks to  reverse sweeps it but misses. The ball goes off the pads towards fine leg. The batters collect a leg bye.

On off, kept out.

Full and on middle. Chandimal flicks it past mid on for a single.

Floated and on off. Asalanka tucks it to mid-wicket.

Full and on off. Asalanka works it to the off side for a single.

Full and on the pads. Chandimal tucks it through mid-wicket for a single.

 NOT OUT! Floated, around middle and off. The ball gets an extra bounce and some turn off the pitch. Charith Asalanka looks to defend it out but misses. He gets rapped on the pads. The bowler puts in an appeal but the umpire says no. Keshav Maharaj takes it upstairs for an LBW review. The UltraEdge confirms that the bat is absent. The Ball Tracker shows the ball is missing the wickets. Charith Asalanka survives.

Floated full and outside off. Asalanka looks to sweep it away but misses.

Darted on the pads, this is flicked to mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! Releases the pressure! A full ball, on off. Dinesh Chandimal comes down the track and muscles it over long off for a biggie.

A flatter ball, on off, chopped to point.

OUT! LBW! This is the first time Keshav Maharaj is captaining his side in a T20I game. He strikes on his very first delivery as a captain. Bhanuka Rajapaksa got two ducks in the ODI series and then he was left out of the final ODI game. He still continues to hunt for his form, as he gets dismissed on a duck yet again in this series. Floated and around off. The ball turns in off the pitch, Bhanuka Rajapaksa comes across and looks to flick it away but misses. He gets rapped on his back leg. Maharaj appeals and the umpire raises his finger in a flash. Bhanuka Rajapaksa decides to take it upstairs. The UltraEdge shows no bat is involved. The Ball Tracker shows it is umpire's call on ball hitting the wickets. Even, the review could not save him.

WIDE! This one spins on middle and spins away. Charith Asalanka misses his flick. Wided.

Darted on the pads, this is flicked to square leg.

This one skid through, outside off. Charith Asalanka looks to sweep but fails to connect. 

A flatter ball, on off. Kept out.

WIDE! Spills it down the leg side. Charith Asalanka misses his flick. 

Full and angling on middle, pushed back to the bowler.

Touch fuller, on middle, Charith Asalanka blocks it back to the bowler. Brilliant over from Keshav Maharaj, just two wides and a wicket.

Swing and a miss! Back of a lengh and around off. Dinesh Chandimal hangs back and looks to pull it away but misses it completely.

A full-length ball, on off. Chandimal gets his bat down in time and defends it back to the bowler.

CLOSE! A length ball, around off. Chandimal stays back and pulls it awkwardly towards mid on. The ball goes off the toe end. The fielder there moves to his right but collects the ball on a bounce.

Play and a miss! A short ball, on middle and off. Fernando hangs back and looks to pull it away but misses.

OUT! RUN OUT! Good effort in the field by Anrich Nortje. He has found the first breakthrough. Rabada serves a length ball, on off. Avishka Fernando pulls it towards mid on. The batter takes off for a single. Anrich Nortje comes running in, collects the ball and he scores a direct hit at the non-striker's end. The umpire takes it upstairs to confirm. The replays roll in and show us that Fernando was well short of the crease. He has to walk back to the dressing room.

A length ball, on off. Chandimal pushes it to cover for a single.

Length ball, on middle, Avishka Fernando flicks it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Around off, on a length. Dinesh Chandimal slaps it hard but straight to point.

FOUR! Welcome boundary! A length ball, on middle. Dinesh Chandimal comes down the track and smashes it back to the bowler who ducks in time and saves himself as it was hit with some power. The ball races away to the fence. 

Full ball, very full, on middle. Dinesh Chandimal digs it out back to the bowler.

A length ball, on middle. Dinesh Chandimal keeps it out.

Angles a full ball, on the pads. Dinesh Chandimal makes room and turns it to square leg for one.

Short in length, on middle. Avishka Fernando swings and misses. The ball rolls over the middle pole. 

On a length, on off. Avishka Fernando opens the face of the bat and dabs it to third man for a single.

Short of a length, on middle. Dinesh Chandimal pulls it wide of square leg and takes two.

DROPPED! Aiden Markram is the culprit! A full ball, on middle. Dinesh Chandimal looks to heave but gets a top edge high in the air and just over point. Aiden Markram there, tracks back and covers a lot of distance but all in vain as he spills it out. Two taken.

On middle. Dinesh Chandimal miscues his drive to mid on for a single.

Full and on off, pushed to mid off for a single. 

Full and angling down the leg side. Avishka Fernando sweeps it fine to fine leg for two.

A full ball, on middle. Avishka Fernando smashes it straight back to the bowler who half-stops it. The long on fielder runs across and does well to stop it. Two taken. 

On middle, Avishka Fernando turns it to mid-wicket for a single.

A flatter ball, on off. Dinesh Chandimal advances down the track and keeps it out.

Serves it full and on middle. Dinesh Chandimal carves it to mid off and runs across for a quick single. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end but misses.

A flatter ball, angling on the pads, this is flicked to mid-wicket for a single.

On a length, on off. Chandimal chops it to deep point for a single.

A length ball, on off, tapped on the off side for another single.

A full ball, on off, driven nicely but finds mid off.

On a length, outside off. Dinesh Chandimal cuts it to point. 

Three dots on a trot! A length ball, outside off. Dinesh Chandimal slaps it to point.

FIVE WIDES! Bonus runs! Bangs a pacy bouncer outside off. Both the batter and the keeper watch it sail over and run away to the fence at third man.

FOUR! First boundary of the chase! A full ball, outside off. Dinesh Chandimal comes down the track and drives it through covers for a boundary. 

Starts with a full ball, on off, pushed to covers.

Loopy ball, on middle, flicked through mid-wicket for a single. Avishka Fernando and Sri Lanka are off the mark.

This one slides through but angling down. Dinesh Chandimal looks to flick but misses and gets rapped on the pads. A mild appeal for LBW follows.

Again angles it on the pads. Dinesh Chandimal again gets rapped on the pads as he tries to flick. 

Full and on middle, flicked to mid-wicket for one. Dinesh Chandimal is off the mark.

Touch fuller, on off. Fernando pushes it on the off side. Tidy start from Bjorn Fortuin.