South Africa couldn’t have asked for better preparation for the World T20 2021 as they completed a clean sweep win against Sri Lanka in a three-match series on Tuesday. Chasing 121, Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks took the team over the line by 10 wickets in 14.4 overs in the final game of the series on September 14. Both the batsmen notched up individual fifties during the course and while Hendricks remained unbeaten at 56 off 42, De Kock scored a 46-ball 59.
Earlier, the South African bowling unit never really let the Sri Lankan batting lineup take an upper hand and kept picking wickets at regular junctions. Opener Kusal Perera tried to hold the fort from one end but he kept losing partners at the other end and was eventually dismissed for 39 off 33.
Chmira Karunaratne though played a small cameo at the end of the innings where he struck an unbeaten 24 off 19 as the hosts only managed to put 120/8 in 20 overs.
Fortuin and Kagiso Rabada picked up two wickets each for South Africa while Markram, Keshav Maharaj and Mulder had one scalp apiece to their names.
South Africa captain Keshav Maharaj hailed the players for making a comeback in the T20Is after suffering a defeat in the ODI series.
“Full credit to the boys, they played really well after losing the ODIs. Good preparation building up to the World Cup. I think from a bowling front, we can look to strive for better performance in the powerplay,” he said after the match.
Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka expressed concern about the batting failure and admitted that this is one department where the team needs to work on.
“First of all, a big congratulation to South Africa. Our bowling was good but we need to think again about our batting unit. SA have been outstanding against spin. Not a lot of positives in this series. Hasaranga and Karunaratne are the positives for us,” he said.