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Sri Lanka thrashed South Africa in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) to seal the series 2-1 on Tuesday. Debutant spinner Maheesh Theekshana lit up the R. Premadasa Stadium in Co🦩lombo to help his team re𝔍gister a massive 78-run victory over the Proteas.
Theekshana picked up a four-wicket haul for just 37 runs in his quota of 10 overs as the hosts bundled out the Keshav Maharaj-led side for a mere 125 runs. The right-armer sent back the likes of Janneman Malan (18), Heinrich Klaasen (22), Kagiso Rabada (8) and Maharaj (15) to complete his fou♌r wickets in the game.
Apart from Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameeraꦑ bagged a couple of scalps each. While Hasaranga picked up two wickets for🌃 32 runs in 8 overs, Chameera conceded 16 runs in 4 overs to bag two scalps.
Earlier, the Islanders posted 203/9 on the scoreboard in their allotted 50 overs. Charith Asalanka was the top scorer for his team, contributing 47 runs off 71 balls with the help of two boundaries. Dhananjaya de Silva (31) and Chameera (29) also made valuℱable runs to take their team to a competitive total.
For the visitors, Maharaj (3/38) picked up three wickets while George Linde (2/32) and Tabraiz Shamsi (2/31) bagged a couple of scalps each.
Chameera was named ‘Player of the Match’ for his all-round (29 runs with the bat and 2 wickets with the ball) contribution in the game. Similarly, Asalanka was chosen as ‘Player of the Series’ for finishing the series as leading run-getter. He made 196 runs in three ODIs at an impressive average of 65.33 with two half-centuries.
“Always nice to be man of the series in an international tournament. My first. Made a plan to work singles, enjoyed that. My role in the team is to bat longer. Were looking at 230-240. After Hasaranga got out, I felt 210 was a good score on this pitch,” said Asalanka after the match.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Congratulations…a.much needed series win .. points and most importantly the confidence and the Winning feeling which can do wonders Well done
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69)
Super𓂃b victory for . brilliant p𝓡erformance from everyone. Congratulations boys
— Thisara perera (@PereraThisara)
Congratulatio๊ns wonderful series win, reward for hard work ꦦand patience!
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket)
What a ꦗPerfomance by the boys ! Mahesh theeksha🔯na what a debut charith asalanka had a fabulous series wel led and all others contributed towards the series win👏 let’s win the t20 series!
— Angelo Mathews (@Angelo69Mathews)
Individually, we are one drop. Together,🤪 we are an oc🤪ean. 🇱🇰♥️
-Ryunosuke Satoro
— Dasun Shanaka (@dasunshanaka1)
Amazing game of cricket.Good Job Guy’s 👍
Well done Charith I l🍨ove the commitment & attitude what u showed through out the tourname🎃nt 👊🏻— Dimuth Karunarathna (@IamDimuth)
Congratulations for winning the ODI series. Well batted charith again and @DushmanthaDC05 , mahesh bꦚrilliant with the bowl. Awesome team work guys 👏👏
— Upul Tharanga (@upultharanga44)
Congratulations to and the team on an excellent series win. A hard fought no doubt, highlighted bඣy a super team effort.
— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket)
What a fantastic series wi🌳n for the boys, hard fought effort by all, so many good performance by individuals but one maꦰn stoodout from the rest,charith asalanka was simply outstanding in all 3 games and deservingly man of the tournament, congratulations boys
— Chamara Kapugedara (@chamarakapu)
//twitter.com/angiperera/status/1ꦰ435283709763088388
Maheesh Theekshana becomes the first Sri Lanka spinner to take a four-wicket haul on men's ODI debut and he was the fourth Sri Lankan who picks up maiden wicket with first ball in international cricket.
— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet)
Ajantha Mendis updated version.
Maheesh Theekshana
— Zeeshan Qayyum ☄️ (@XeeshanQayyum)