Blow by blow: Proteas win glorified hit-out by 19 runs

The much anticipated first T20 between the new-look Proteas and Sri Lanka brought its fair share of action. Re-live the action here.

Heino Kuhn gave the Proteas a good start. Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images.

Sri Lanka innings:

10th over: Andile Phehlukwayo bowls a fine last over. He only concedes 7 as the Proteas win by 19 runs. SL 107/6.

9th over: A decent over by Parnell is ruined by a six. Nonetheless, the Islanders require 27 from the last six. That’s a tall ask. SL 100/6.

OUT! Another one bites the dust. Angelo Mathews holes out to Wayne Parnell. SL 91/6.

8th over: What an over from Lungi Ngidi! Double strike!

OUT! Another for Ngidi! Kusal Mendis plays a meaty flick straight to Heino Kuhn, who parries the ball to Imran Tahir to complete the catch. Wild celebrations. SL 90/5.

OUT! Lungi Ngidi! A first wicket for the 2o-year-old as Prasanna edges a big waft. SL 88/4.

7th over: Seekuge Prasanna shows why he’s been promoted. Smashes Phangiso for two consecutive sixes. SL 87/3.

OUT! Debutant Thikshila de Silva will be kicking himself. A long hop from Aaron Phangiso is deposited straight into deep mid-wicket’s hands … again. SL 74/3.

OUT! Dhananjaya de Silva smashes Tahir for two sixes but misses the final ball of his spell. The Proteas tweaker is running off again. SL 73/2 (6 overs)

OUT! You can always count on Imran Tahir. He lures the dangerman into a slog sweep that’s gleefully gobbled up by Theunis de Bruyn at deep mid-wicket. SL 59/1.

5th over: The Proteas will now be properly aware of the danger posed by Dickwella. He’s going really well with 43 off 17. SL 59/0.

4th over: Imran Tahir spoils a good first over by conceding a six off the last ball. Dickwella looks a good player. SL 49/0.

3rd over: Niroshan Dickwella improvises really well as he leads Sri Lanka to a flying start. 16 runs off Andile Phehlukwayo’s first over. Welcome, err, back…. SL 40/0.

2nd over: Wayne Parnell’s first over is as wayward as ever. Will he ever be consistent? That said, Heino Kuhn drops a catch off the last ball of the over. SL on course at the moment. 24/0.

1st over: Lungi Ngidi’s first over in international cricket is a decent one. One of the boundaries he concedes is an edge agonisingly close to Mangaliso Mosehle behind the stumps. SL 9/0.

Proteas innings:

OUT! Mosehle only faces one ball as he’s run out by a brilliant Gunaratne direct-hit from mid-off. The Proteas end on 126/5 in their 10 overs. Behardien is unbeaten on 31.

9th over: Mangaliso Mosehle’s first shot in international cricket sails over the rope for six. Magnificent square drive! SA 112/4.

OUT! It was in the slot but Miller doesn’t quite get under a Kulasekara delivery. But boy, it was fun. His 40 off 18 has laid an excellent platform. SA 105/4.

8th over: In a typical case of bowling one over too many, Angelo Mathews concedes 20 as David Miller brags with his power-packed stroke-play. SA 93/3.

7th over: Farhaan Behardien has found his range. Feasted off Nuwan Pradeep’s poor lengths. SA 74/3.

6th over: Gunaratne doesn’t quite have the control in his second over but he still keeps the runs down. Concedes only 12 in his two overs. SA 63/3

OUT! De Bruyn cuts strongly but finds Gunaratne at point. Lovely grab. SA 54/2 (4.5 overs)

4th over: What an unexpectedly fine over from Asela Gunaratne! He just concedes five with his crafty medium-pacers. SA 42/2.

3rd over: De Bruyn shows his outrageous wrists with a disdainful flick for six off Lakmal. The Proteas scored 37 in the shortened power-play. SA 37/2.

OUT! Jon-Jon Smuts had some fun against the Test series hero Suranga Lakmal, hitting him for a four and six before becoming overeager and skying one to extra cover. SA 30/2 (2.4 overs)

2nd over: Theunis de Bruyn’s first delivery in international cricket is a dolly. Slow and down leg, he flicks it easily past fine leg for four. SA 19/1.

OUT! Just after hitting a sumptuous pull, Heino Kuhn goes across his stumps against Nuwan Kulasekara and is adjudged LBW. SA 15/1 (1.4 overs)

1st over: Heino Kuhn plays a cheeky late cut past the vacant first slip for his first boundary in international cricket. Jon-Jon Smuts looks equally comfortable against a distinctly un-threatening Angelo Mathews. SA 10/0

20.20: Here is the new-look Proteas side:

Heino Kuhn, Jon-Jon Smuts, Theunis de Bruyn, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Mangaliso Mosehle, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Aaron Phangiso, Imran Tahir, Lungi Ngidi.

20.17: Farhaan Behardien loses his first toss as Proteas captain. Sri Lanka will bowl first. No surprises there.

19.51: It’s confirmed. Game will start at 20.30 and will be 10 overs a side.

19.44: The covers are finally coming off but we’ve already lost overs.

17.55: Here’s some interesting reading to keep you busy in the meantime.

17.50: Welcome to a wet SuperSport Park in Centurion. The toss for the first T20 between the Proteas and Sri Lanka should’ve been at 17.30. That’s not happening. There’s hope to the east of the clouds clearing up but for now, there’s no sight of play

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