South Africa dumped Sri Lanka by 9 wickets with 35 balls to spare in the second T20 in a masterly all-round display exposing the host teams vulnarabiliy on a turning wicket to already clinch the series 2-nil with one more match to go at the R. Premadasa International Stadium on Sunday.

After their bowlers courtesy Player of the Match Tabraiz Shamshi (3 for 20, Aiden Markram (3 for 21) and Bjorn Fortune (2 for 12 had put the brakes on the Lankans who folded for 103 in 18.3 overs from a healthy 52 for 2 off 6 overs, Quinton de Kock struck an unbeaten 48-ball 58 inclusive of 7 fours to lead South Africa to victory at 105 for 1 off 14.1 overs. With him was Markram on 21 off 19 (2×4) while Reeza Hendricks made a run a ball 18 (2×4).

Sri Lanka collapsed from 50 for 1 off 5.4 overs, the last 7 wickets falling in 8.5 for the addition of 32. After Dinesh Chandimal fell for 5 with the score 10 Kusal Janith Perera, returning from Covid recuperation, put on 42 for the second wicket with Bhanuka Rajapaksa who came out of his 3-duck hoodoo clobbering the second delivery he faced off Kagisso Rabada for a boundary just falling short of going over, and connected the very next ball from Kagisso for six. At the other end, Kusal Janith had prospered to 23 also hitting a six and two fours when Rajapaksa was caught and bowled by Aiden Markram – 2 for 52 after the six power play overs. But that was as far the Lankan Lions would roar. From that point brief resistance of Charith Asalanka 14 off 20 and skipper Dasun Shanaka 10 of 8 (1×6).

CHIEF SCORES: Sri Lanka 103 (20 Overs) RR: 5.66 ( Kusal Janith Perera 30, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 20, Charith Asalanka 14, Dasun Shanaka 10, Tabraiz Shamsi 3/20, Aiden Markram 3/21, Bjorn Fortune 2/12) South Africa 105/1 (14.1 Overs) RR: 7.41 (Quinton de Kock n.o. 58, Aiden Markram n.o. 21, Reeza Hendricks 18)