SL vs SA 2nd T20I Commentary - Colombo (12 September 2021)

FOUR BYES! That does it. South Africa have crossed the line and they win the series too via byes. Praveen Jayawickrama serves this flatter and around middle and leg, skidding down, Quinton de Kock looks to reverse sweep but misses and the keeper is not able to stop the ball too as it races away to the fine leg fence. SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 9 WICKETS AND CLINCH THE SERIES!

Uppish but wide of extra cover! Flighted and around off, de Kock drills his drive through the line to wide long off for a single.

Full and floated on middle, Markram gets forward and works it off his pads to mid-wicket.

Identical to the last delivery, this time Aiden uses his feet to run down the track and eases it to long on for a single.

Skidding down the leg side, de Kock goes back to work it away but it goes off the inner half to short fine leg. They take a couple.

Loopy and outside off, de Kock plays it late and taps it down to short third man for a single.

FOUR! 100 up for South Africa. Fuller in length and around off, Markram presses forward and drills it down the ground. The field is up at mid off and it's a boundary.

Turning away from the batsman, around off, Markram goes back and pushes it to cover-point. The length was short and that allowed time for the batter.

Short again, on middle, Aiden moves back and punches it down to long on for a single.

FOUR! What a lovely shot! Quinton de Kock brings up his fifty, his 10th in T20Is and first against Sri Lanka. He has been in some form for some time now. Just extending it forward. Fuller and around off, de Kock has enough space to free his arms as he rifles his drive through extra cover for a boundary.

A touch short in length on middle, de Kock gets back and works it in front of square leg for a couple of runs.

On middle, it's tucked around the corner for a single at square leg.

Fuller and off, slower in pace, Aiden is on the front foot as he pushes it defensively to covers. 12 needed more.

EDGY FOUR! Quicker one, full and around off, Markram gets forward to push at it but edges it behind. It hurries past first slip and finds the fence at third man.

Quicker and flatter on middle, Aiden gets back and keeps it out on the leg side.

FOUR! Carrom ball goes wrong for Maheesh Theekshana. He drags his length short and around off, Markram rocks back and whacks it to the cover boundary. 21 needed more. 

Loopy and full on off, Aiden presses forward and keeps it out defensively to mid-wicket.

Slightly short and on off, Markram moves back and plays it down towards cover-point for a run.

Tossed up on middle, fuller in length, de Kock gets forward and flicks it to mid-wicket. 9 from the over, South Africa are 20 away from sealing the series.

Tossed up, around off and drifting in, de Kock defends it on the leg side.

Fuller and around leg, de Kock plays a well-timed reverse sweep and sends the ball to deep point. One run. 

It's a loopy ball around off, fuller in length, Aiden drives it in the gap at covers for a single.

Tossed up around leg, de Kock tries to flick but possibly gets a thin leading edge wide of first slip. They cross for a run as the bowler is busy appealing.

SAFE! It has hit the bat first. A leg spinner, landing full around off and spinning away, Markram gets forward to defend but it takes the inner edge and strikes him on the boot. The bowler thinks it's boot first and appeals. The umpire stays unmoved. Wanindu Hasaranga convinces his skipper to take the DRS but there is nothing of any use for Sri Lanka in the replays.

Drags his length short and delivers it on middle, Markram goes back and pulls it down to long on for a run. 29 needed more.

Slower through the air, drifting in around leg and spinning away towards off, de Kock tries to work it on the leg side but it takes a soft leading edge. The ball goes to point and they cross.

NOT OUT! Missing the stumps. Loopy delivery, full and landing outside off, Markram goes down and across to play the play paddle sweep but the ball spins past his blade to strike him on the pads. They appeal vociferously and the umpire lifts his finger. Quinton de Kock quickly advises his partner to take the DRS and Aiden does that. The replays roll in and the UltraEdge shows no bat. The impact is also in line but the Ball Tracker indicates that it's missing the leg stump. Too much turn and bounce.

Markram goes deep inside the crease and eases it fine down the leg side. It's chased down near the fence and the batters take a couple.

Wide! Spinning down the leg side, Markram has a failed attempt at flicking it. A good take by Chandimal.

Fullish and on off, Markram forces it down to long on for a single.

Maheesh Theekshana goes very full and around leg, de Kock tries to sweep by going down low but fails to middle his shot. Ends up jamming it down on the surface off his gloves.

Taps it down with the spin to cover-point and retains strike with a single.

Very full in length and on middle, de Kock whips it down to wide long on and takes a single.

OUT! Here comes the first breakthrough! Hasaranga bowls a loopy full ball on middle, spinning away, Reeza Hendricks kneels down to swipe it over the leg side but gets a top edge. Never a good idea to do that against the spin. The ball flies towards backward square leg and Dinesh Chandimal runs across to his left to complete the catch safely. 42 needed off 70 balls.

Flighted one, full and around leg, de Kock wrists it to mid-wicket and collects a run.

Beaten all ends up! A quicker leg spinner, flat and short around off, Markram goes back to cut but misses.

Identical to the last delivery, Aiden punches it from the back foot to sweeper cover for a single.

Floated one, full and on middle, de Kock clips it through mid-wicket and picks up a single. 4 runs and a wicket from the over, 39 needed off 66 balls.

Almost drags it on! Slower one, on a good length around off, Hendricks goes back to pull but it takes the inner edge. The ball deflects to point and they cross.

Slower again, short and wide outside off, de Kock cuts but finds the point fielder.

Deceives the batsman there. Shanaka delivers it slow and short around off, de Kock picks it late and then decides to let it go.

Back of a length, around off, de Kock stays back and tries to pull across the line. Doesn't middle it properly and drags it down towards wide long on for a run.

FOUR! Well played! Shanaka is overdoing with his slower ones. This time the length is short and the line is outside off. Hendricks anticipates it, waits for the ball and cuts it late to find the gap behind backward point.

Pitches it up and around off, Reeza drives but finds the mid off fielder. Easy going for South Africa, 43 needed more.

Starts with a loopy delivery, full and around off, de Kock does well to flick it behind square leg for a run. 50 up!

Flatter delivery, a touch short and outside off, no turn, Hendricks moves back and punches it on the leg side.

Edgy but safe! Wanindu bowls this slower through the air and lands it around off. The ball lands, grips and spins away as Hendricks goes back to work it on the leg side. It takes the leading edge and rolls to backward point. The batsmen cross.

Slightly short and around leg, de Kock goes back and heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Again the length is a bit short and it's allowing the batsman to play from the back foot. Hendricks eases it to mid-wicket and rotates the strike.

Hasaranga tosses this one up and lands it full on off, de Kock flicks it with gentle hands through mid-wicket and scampers back for the second run. Under 50 needed now.

Edged? Fuller and around off, skidding in probably, de Kock goes down for the slog-sweep but gets an inside edge onto the pads. It lobs behind past the diving first slip fielder and they take three runs. The replays show that the ball popped out and brushed the grill of his helmet before racing behind. The physio will come out to have a look...

FOUR! Smashed away! A long hop, around off, Reeza rocks back, uses the depth of the crease and pounces onto the delivery. He plays a blazing pull shot and finds the fence at deep mid-wicket.

Quicker one, flatter and shorter on middle, Hendricks punches it to long on for a single.

Short and wide outside off, Quinton gets back and cuts but finds the point fielder.

Flatter again, around leg, de Kock plays a reverse-batted slap but finds the fielder at cover-point.

On the pads, tucked through square leg for a single. At the end of the Powerplay, South Africa are 49/0, needing 55 more for a win.

Cracking shot and a good piece of fielding in the deep. Fuller in length around leg, Reeza goes down on one knee and sweeps it firmly to deep mid-wicket. Charith Asalanka makes a diving stop in the deep and keeps the batsmen down to one.

FOUR! De Kock is on the attack. Loopy one, full and around leg, Quinton goes down on one knee and powers it over square leg. It goes to the fence on one bounce.

FOUR! De Kock is just making batting look so easy. A tossed up delivery, landing full around leg, Quinton brings out the reverse sweep and nails it wide of backward point for a boundary. Praveen Jayawickrama is under big pressure at the moment.

Walks down the track to a full ball around leg and nudges it to short fine leg for one.

Very full and around off, not allowing the ball to turn, Hendricks knocks it down to mid on and takes a quick run.

Loopy delivery, full and around off, de Kock gently flicks it to square leg and milks a single. 12 from the over, 64 needed more.

Beaten! A touch flatter, around off and spinning away, de Kock stays back to defend but it beats the outside edge.

Fuller and on off, de Kock drives it back to the bowler.

A near-yorker around leg, de Kock moves back and digs it out towards extra cover. The fielder misfields as he dives and they take a single.

Sharp spin into the right-hander from around off, Reeza is caught on the back foot but does well to work it away wide of short fine leg for a run.

Play and a miss! De Kock tries to be innovative. Floated one, full and outside off, de Kock brings out the reverse sweep but fails to connect.

FOUR! Slapped away! Maheesh is on the shorter side around off, de Kock steps back to make room and whacks it through point for a boundary. This has been a perfect start for South Africa in this minuscule chase. 76 needed more.

Serves it on a fuller length, around off, Reeza uses his wrists while staying on the back foot and works it behind square leg for a single.

Called a no ball! Chameera has overstepped. A full toss on off, de Kock punches it down to mid off.

FOUR! Hammered away! Another full toss, outside off, de Kock stays leg-side of this delivery and smacks it over cover-point for a boundary. Chameera was eyeing a wide yorker but the execution was not there.

Wide called for height! A bouncer around leg, de Kock tries to pull but it bounces over his bat. Too high as it goes to the keeper and it's called a wide.

Slower one,  a leg cutter, around leg, de Kock tries to flick but is beaten for lack of pace. The ball deflects off his pads to short third man and they cross.

Another slower one, outside off on a length and gripping a bit, Reeza checks his drive and pushes it softly to covers.

Fractionally short and outside off, another leg cutter, Reeze cuts it a bit aerially off his back foot to point. Wanindu Hasaranga fumbles a bit but no run is conceded as the ball rolls to cover-point.

Angles it in a length around off, Hendricks taps it down on the off side and looks for a run. Quinton de Kock sends him back.

Dhananjaya begins with a shorter one around off, Reeza goes back and punches it down to long on for a run.

Clever! Floated one, full and around off, spinning away, de Kock plays it very late, almost off the keeper's gloves. It runs wide of short third man for a couple of runs.

Fuller and on middle, de Kock flicks it in front of square leg and takes a single.

A long hop outside off, Hendricks cuts it from the back foot but finds point.

Flighted and full on middle, Reeza works it through mid-wicket and picks up a single.

FOUR! Fine shot! Floated delivery, full and outside off, de Kock strides forward and plays a crunchy cover drive through the gap for a boundary. 9 from the over, 90 needed more.

Wide! Wrong start from Chameera. Serves a fuller length ball around leg, curling down, de Kock tries to flick but misses. The chase is underway for South Africa with an extra.

Pitches it up around middle, de Kock plays a punchy drive down the ground but finds mid on.

FOUR! Timing and placement! Quinton de Kock is a class apart. He opens his account with a glorious boundary. Chameera delivers it on a length and outside off, Quinton drives it on the up and beats the diving short point fielder to his left. The ball races behind and finds the fence in a flash.

Fuller and on off, defended back to the bowler.

DE KOCK IS SAFE! Back of a length, around off and angling away, de Kock hangs on the back foot and tries to pull it across the line but fails to connect. Dinesh Chandimal collects the ball, they appeal but nothing from the umpire. Dushmantha Chameera seems to have heard something and he convinces his skipper to take the DRS. UltraEdge spots nothing. A review wasted.

Sharp delivery, short again, around middle, de Kock plays a mistimed pull shot to mid-wicket.

Quinton misses out! On a length around middle, de Kock tries to heave it over the leg side but only manages an inside edge. It brushes his pads and rolls to short fine leg. De Kock is cross with himself after missing out on that one. 5 from the first over!