Herschelle Gibbs cast aside a disappointing cricket series on Wednesday to spur South Africa to an eight wicket win as well as a 3-1 series victory over Sri Lanka at the De Beers Oval.
Chasing Sri Lanka’s paltry 184 all out, South Africa surged to 190 for two with 19,1 overs to spare, Gibbs unbeaten on 108 from 92 balls. But the hosts had to rally from a decidedly shaky start to post the victory.
Experimental opener Andrew Hall and Neil McKenzie were both out within 22 balls of the start of the innings before Gibbs and the dependable Jacques Kallis added 172 for the third wicket.
Initially it was Kallis (64 not out) who was the more assertive as the pair took the score from 18 for two to more respectable territory.
Once Gibbs moved closer to 40 though he set about savaging the Sri Lankan attack. In one Pulasthi Guneratne over, Gibbs, who was dropped three times, plundered 15 runs as he took just 30 balls to blast his second 50.
Having made scores of 0, 16 and 0, Gibbs cashed in on some indifferent Sri Lankan fielding and bowling as he smashed 14 fours and three sixes.
The Sri Lankans though gave themselves no real chance of keeping the five match series alive in making that inadequate 184.
After a bright start the tourists allowed South Africa to rein them in.
Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya rushed to 57 within the first 10 overs but an example of amateurish running between the wickets saw Atapattu run out needlessly for 39.
A casual back flick from wicketkeeper Mark Boucher caught the opener with both his foot and bat in the air when the bails were dislodged.
For South Africa though the most pleasing aspect of their bowling performance was probably the return to wicket taking form of Allan Donald.
The country’s premier fast bowler — now retired from Test cricket — has performed adequately this series but has not taken that many wickets.
On Wednesday he took three for 18 in 10 overs as he removed the perennially dangerous Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene and Dilhara Fernando in two impressive spells off an abbreviated run up.
It should have been four had Boucher not spilt Pulashti Fernando’s first ball offer. In dismissing Jayasuriya for 27, Donald was aided by possibly
the most spectacular catch of the season by McKenzie.
Fielding at wide mid on, McKenzie flung himself to his left before hanging onto the ball above his head with his right hand.
It was the second of three catches for McKenzie who was surprisingly included in the side with Robin Peterson — the other squad member recalled after South Africa were thumped in Benoni on Sunday.
Compared to the shameful display at Willowmoore Park,
Wednesday’s fielding was of a far higher standard, though Jonty Rhodes did manage to drop a simple catch looking directly into the sun.
Against that fielding and that disciplined bowling, Sri Lanka were unable to arrest an alarming slump. In the middle of the innings, having stuttered to 97 for five, the tourists failed to score a boundary in 18 overs.
Russel Arnold finally broke the shackles by straight driving Donald, but by then the tourists were too far behind to post an even remotely competitive target.
Arnold, playing his 100th ODI, was last man out for 50. – Sapa