Dilshan Does It Again For The Lankans!
Sri Lanka opened their Champions Trophy campaign with a victory over South Africa in a rain-affected match in Centurion.
Chasing 320 in 50 overs, the hosts were reeling at 206 for seven in 37.4 overs when heavens opened up and play was stopped. After sometime, seeing no sign of it relenting, play was finally called off last night.
Skipper Smith won the toss and elected to bowl first, which seemed to be the correct decision as Sanath Jayasuriya was an early Steyn victim.
However, fellow opener Tillerkaratne Dilshan and captain Kumar Sangakarra put Sri Lanka in a strong position with a 168-run partnership. This was followed by another big partnership as Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera added another 116 runs to the score.
Sri Lanka finished on 319-8 after their allotted 50 overs and set a massive target for the home side.
Chasing 320 to win, skipper Graeme Smith hit a defiant 58 en route to his 81-run second wicket stand with Jacques Kallis (41) to raise hope of a successful run chase but Mendis spoiled South Africa's chase with his fiery spell.
Rain also added to South Africa's woes when play was called off because of torrential rains.
"I have been in good form for the past 12 months and believe moving from the middle order to the top has helped me a lot," revealed Dilshan after receiving the man-of-the-match award.
"As an opener I feel I have more chances to build an innings and Kumar (captain Sangakkara) and I have developed a wonderful partnership in which we know how to assist each other."
It was the third ODI century by the 2009 ICC Cricketer of the Year and Test Player of the Year nominee and his career-best 137 came this year against Pakistan in Karachi.
South Africa next face New Zealand at Centurion on Thursday, with Sri Lanka up against England in Johannesburg.
Score:
South Africa 206 for seven in 37.4 overs (G Smith 58, Kallis 41; Mendis 3/30, L Malinga 2/43)
Sri Lanka 319 for eight in 50 overs. (T Dilshan 106, M Jayawardene 77; W Parnell 3/79, D Steyn 3/47).
