Sri Lanka vs South Africa, South Africa in Sri Lanka, 3 T20I Series, 2021 Full score card

FOUR BYES! That does it. South Africa have crossed the line and they win the series too via byes. Praveen Jayawickrama serves this flatter and around middle and leg, skidding down, Quinton de Kock looks to reverse sweep but misses and the keeper is not able to stop the ball too as it races away to the fine leg fence. SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 9 WICKETS AND CLINCH THE SERIES!

FOUR! 100 up for South Africa. Fuller in length and around off, Markram presses forward and drills it down the ground. The field is up at mid off and it's a boundary.

Loopy and outside off, de Kock plays it late and taps it down to short third man for a single.

Skidding down the leg side, de Kock goes back to work it away but it goes off the inner half to short fine leg. They take a couple.

Identical to the last delivery, this time Aiden uses his feet to run down the track and eases it to long on for a single.

Full and floated on middle, Markram gets forward and works it off his pads to mid-wicket.

Uppish but wide of extra cover! Flighted and around off, de Kock drills his drive through the line to wide long off for a single.

Fuller and off, slower in pace, Aiden is on the front foot as he pushes it defensively to covers. 12 needed more.

On middle, it's tucked around the corner for a single at square leg.

A touch short in length on middle, de Kock gets back and works it in front of square leg for a couple of runs.

FOUR! What a lovely shot! Quinton de Kock brings up his fifty, his 10th in T20Is and first against Sri Lanka. He has been in some form for some time now. Just extending it forward. Fuller and around off, de Kock has enough space to free his arms as he rifles his drive through extra cover for a boundary.

Short again, on middle, Aiden moves back and punches it down to long on for a single.

Turning away from the batsman, around off, Markram goes back and pushes it to cover-point. The length was short and that allowed time for the batter.

Tossed up on middle, fuller in length, de Kock gets forward and flicks it to mid-wicket. 9 from the over, South Africa are 20 away from sealing the series.

Slightly short and on off, Markram moves back and plays it down towards cover-point for a run.

Loopy and full on off, Aiden presses forward and keeps it out defensively to mid-wicket.

FOUR! Carrom ball goes wrong for Maheesh Theekshana. He drags his length short and around off, Markram rocks back and whacks it to the cover boundary. 21 needed more.

Quicker and flatter on middle, Aiden gets back and keeps it out on the leg side.

EDGY FOUR! Quicker one, full and around off, Markram gets forward to push at it but edges it behind. It hurries past first slip and finds the fence at third man.

Drags his length short and delivers it on middle, Markram goes back and pulls it down to long on for a run. 29 needed more.

SAFE! It has hit the bat first. A leg spinner, landing full around off and spinning away, Markram gets forward to defend but it takes the inner edge and strikes him on the boot. The bowler thinks it's boot first and appeals. The umpire stays unmoved. Wanindu Hasaranga convinces his skipper to take the DRS but there is nothing of any use for Sri Lanka in the replays.

Tossed up around leg, de Kock tries to flick but possibly gets a thin leading edge wide of first slip. They cross for a run as the bowler is busy appealing.

Review!

It's a loopy ball around off, fuller in length, Aiden drives it in the gap at covers for a single.

Fuller and around leg, de Kock plays a well-timed reverse sweep and sends the ball to deep point. One run.

Tossed up, around off and drifting in, de Kock defends it on the leg side.

Taps it down with the spin to cover-point and retains strike with a single.

Maheesh Theekshana goes very full and around leg, de Kock tries to sweep by going down low but fails to middle his shot. Ends up jamming it down on the surface off his gloves.

Fullish and on off, Markram forces it down to long on for a single.

Wide! Spinning down the leg side, Markram has a failed attempt at flicking it. A good take by Chandimal.

Markram goes deep inside the crease and eases it fine down the leg side. It's chased down near the fence and the batters take a couple.

NOT OUT! Missing the stumps. Loopy delivery, full and landing outside off, Markram goes down and across to play the play paddle sweep but the ball spins past his blade to strike him on the pads. They appeal vociferously and the umpire lifts his finger. Quinton de Kock quickly advises his partner to take the DRS and Aiden does that. The replays roll in and the UltraEdge shows no bat. The impact is also in line but the Ball Tracker indicates that it's missing the leg stump. Too much turn and bounce.

Slower through the air, drifting in around leg and spinning away towards off, de Kock tries to work it on the leg side but it takes a soft leading edge. The ball goes to point and they cross.

Review!

We are back!

Update 10.10 pm local (4.40 pm GMT) - Looks like we have a starting time as the game will resume at 10.20 pm local (4.50 pm GMT). We really shouldn't have any overs lost as the delay was not a long one.

Update 9.58 pm local (4.28 pm GMT) - Well, as expected, it was only a short burst as the rain has stopped. The covers seem to be coming off as well. If there is no more rain falling down from this point forward, we should be getting underway soon enough.

Floated one, full and on middle, de Kock clips it through mid-wicket and picks up a single. 4 runs and a wicket from the over, 39 needed off 66 balls.

Uh oh! The rain has decided to come back again and it is slightly heavy this time. The umpires wait for a bit, before gesturing and calling the groundsmen out into the middle.

Identical to the last delivery, Aiden punches it from the back foot to sweeper cover for a single.

Beaten all ends up! A quicker leg spinner, flat and short around off, Markram goes back to cut but misses.

Flighted one, full and around leg, de Kock wrists it to mid-wicket and collects a run.

OUT! Here comes the first breakthrough! Hasaranga bowls a loopy full ball on middle, spinning away, Reeza Hendricks kneels down to swipe it over the leg side but gets a top edge. Never a good idea to do that against the spin. The ball flies towards backward square leg and Dinesh Chandimal runs across to his left to complete the catch safely. 42 needed off 70 balls.

Aiden Markram walks out at Number 3 for South Africa!

Very full in length and on middle, de Kock whips it down to wide long on and takes a single.

Pitches it up and around off, Reeza drives but finds the mid off fielder. Easy going for South Africa, 43 needed more.

FOUR! Well played! Shanaka is overdoing with his slower ones. This time the length is short and the line is outside off. Hendricks anticipates it, waits for the ball and cuts it late to find the gap behind backward point.

Back of a length, around off, de Kock stays back and tries to pull across the line. Doesn't middle it properly and drags it down towards wide long on for a run.

Deceives the batsman there. Shanaka delivers it slow and short around off, de Kock picks it late and then decides to let it go.

Slower again, short and wide outside off, de Kock cuts but finds the point fielder.

Almost drags it on! Slower one, on a good length around off, Hendricks goes back to pull but it takes the inner edge. The ball deflects to point and they cross.

Hasaranga tosses this one up and lands it full on off, de Kock flicks it with gentle hands through mid-wicket and scampers back for the second run. Under 50 needed now.

Change.

Again the length is a bit short and it's allowing the batsman to play from the back foot. Hendricks eases it to mid-wicket and rotates the strike.

Slightly short and around leg, de Kock goes back and heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Edgy but safe! Wanindu bowls this slower through the air and lands it around off. The ball lands, grips and spins away as Hendricks goes back to work it on the leg side. It takes the leading edge and rolls to backward point. The batsmen cross.

Flatter delivery, a touch short and outside off, no turn, Hendricks moves back and punches it on the leg side.

Starts with a loopy delivery, full and around off, de Kock does well to flick it behind square leg for a run. 50 up!

On the pads, tucked through square leg for a single. At the end of the Powerplay, South Africa are 49/0, needing 55 more for a win.

Wanindu Hasaranga time!

Flatter again, around leg, de Kock plays a reverse-batted slap but finds the fielder at cover-point.

Short and wide outside off, Quinton gets back and cuts but finds the point fielder.

Quicker one, flatter and shorter on middle, Hendricks punches it to long on for a single.

FOUR! Smashed away! A long hop, around off, Reeza rocks back, uses the depth of the crease and pounces onto the delivery. He plays a blazing pull shot and finds the fence at deep mid-wicket.

Edged? Fuller and around off, skidding in probably, de Kock goes down for the slog-sweep but gets an inside edge onto the pads. It lobs behind past the diving first slip fielder and they take three runs. The replays show that the ball popped out and brushed the grill of his helmet before racing behind. The physio will come out to have a look...

A concussion check for de Kock!

Loopy delivery, full and around off, de Kock gently flicks it to square leg and milks a single. 12 from the over, 64 needed more.

Very full and around off, not allowing the ball to turn, Hendricks knocks it down to mid on and takes a quick run.

Walks down the track to a full ball around leg and nudges it to short fine leg for one.

FOUR! De Kock is just making batting look so easy. A tossed up delivery, landing full around leg, Quinton brings out the reverse sweep and nails it wide of backward point for a boundary. Praveen Jayawickrama is under big pressure at the moment.

FOUR! De Kock is on the attack. Loopy one, full and around leg, Quinton goes down on one knee and powers it over square leg. It goes to the fence on one bounce.

Cracking shot and a good piece of fielding in the deep. Fuller in length around leg, Reeza goes down on one knee and sweeps it firmly to deep mid-wicket. Charith Asalanka makes a diving stop in the deep and keeps the batsmen down to one.

Change in bowling. Praveen Jayawickrama has been handed the ball now.

FOUR! Slapped away! Maheesh is on the shorter side around off, de Kock steps back to make room and whacks it through point for a boundary. This has been a perfect start for South Africa in this minuscule chase. 76 needed more.

Play and a miss! De Kock tries to be innovative. Floated one, full and outside off, de Kock brings out the reverse sweep but fails to connect.

Sharp spin into the right-hander from around off, Reeza is caught on the back foot but does well to work it away wide of short fine leg for a run.

A near-yorker around leg, de Kock moves back and digs it out towards extra cover. The fielder misfields as he dives and they take a single.

Fuller and on off, de Kock drives it back to the bowler.

Beaten! A touch flatter, around off and spinning away, de Kock stays back to defend but it beats the outside edge.

Bowling change?

Angles it in a length around off, Hendricks taps it down on the off side and looks for a run. Quinton de Kock sends him back.

Fractionally short and outside off, another leg cutter, Reeze cuts it a bit aerially off his back foot to point. Wanindu Hasaranga fumbles a bit but no run is conceded as the ball rolls to cover-point.

Another slower one, outside off on a length and gripping a bit, Reeza checks his drive and pushes it softly to covers.

Slower one,  a leg cutter, around leg, de Kock tries to flick but is beaten for lack of pace. The ball deflects off his pads to short third man and they cross.

Wide called for height! A bouncer around leg, de Kock tries to pull but it bounces over his bat. Too high as it goes to the keeper and it's called a wide.

FOUR! Hammered away! Another full toss, outside off, de Kock stays leg-side of this delivery and smacks it over cover-point for a boundary. Chameera was eyeing a wide yorker but the execution was not there.

Called a no ball! Chameera has overstepped. A full toss on off, de Kock punches it down to mid off.

Serves it on a fuller length, around off, Reeza uses his wrists while staying on the back foot and works it behind square leg for a single.

FOUR! Fine shot! Floated delivery, full and outside off, de Kock strides forward and plays a crunchy cover drive through the gap for a boundary. 9 from the over, 90 needed more.

Flighted and full on middle, Reeza works it through mid-wicket and picks up a single.

A long hop outside off, Hendricks cuts it from the back foot but finds point.

Fuller and on middle, de Kock flicks it in front of square leg and takes a single.

Clever! Floated one, full and around off, spinning away, de Kock plays it very late, almost off the keeper's gloves. It runs wide of short third man for a couple of runs.

A slip in place!

Dhananjaya begins with a shorter one around off, Reeza goes back and punches it down to long on for a run.

Quinton misses out! On a length around middle, de Kock tries to heave it over the leg side but only manages an inside edge. It brushes his pads and rolls to short fine leg. De Kock is cross with himself after missing out on that one. 5 from the first over!

Who will bowl from the other end?

Sharp delivery, short again, around middle, de Kock plays a mistimed pull shot to mid-wicket.

DRS time!

DE KOCK IS SAFE! Back of a length, around off and angling away, de Kock hangs on the back foot and tries to pull it across the line but fails to connect. Dinesh Chandimal collects the ball, they appeal but nothing from the umpire. Dushmantha Chameera seems to have heard something and he convinces his skipper to take the DRS. UltraEdge spots nothing. A review wasted.

Fuller and on off, defended back to the bowler.

FOUR! Timing and placement! Quinton de Kock is a class apart. He opens his account with a glorious boundary. Chameera delivers it on a length and outside off, Quinton drives it on the up and beats the diving short point fielder to his left. The ball races behind and finds the fence in a flash.

Pitches it up around middle, de Kock plays a punchy drive down the ground but finds mid on.

Wide! Wrong start from Chameera. Serves a fuller length ball around leg, curling down, de Kock tries to flick but misses. The chase is underway for South Africa with an extra.

OUT! Trapped in front! The agony for the Sri Lankans is over. Maharaj delivers it flat and full on middle, going straight on after landing, Maheesh Theekshana tries to defend it with a straight bat but misses. The ball pings the pads, the appeal is made and the umpire agrees. Sri Lanka are bowled out for 103!

Flighted and on middle, Praveen Jayawickrama walks forward and flicks it to mid-wicket. It's a wicket maiden for Markam to finish his spell. 4-1-21-3, what a cracking effort!

Loopy around middle and leg, Praveen tries to flick but misses. It goes off his pads to the leg side.

Who will bowl the penultimate over?

Short and wide outside off, Praveen opens the face of his blade but finds the point fielder again.

Shortish and close to off, skidding away, Praveen Jayawickrama guides it through the line but finds backward point.

Fuller one, around leg, the debutant defends it ahead of his front pad.

Praveen Jayawickrama is the last batter in.

OUT! Caught and bowled! Wicket number 9 goes down and it's the big one of Charith Asalanka. Markram picks his third. Slower through the air, full and around off, Asalanka shapes up for a cover drive but it probably holds up from the surface. He is early into his shot and ends up chipping a simple return catch to the bowler.

Quicker and fuller on off, defended from the crease to the off side. Bjorn Fortuin is also done with his spell, 4-0-12-2. Amazing.

Aiden Markram to bowl out!

OUT! Chameera is a goner despite taking the DRS. A smart piece of bowling from Bjorn Fortuin. He comes up with a flatter arm ball around off and it skids on after landing. Chameera is caught on the back foot as he attempts to defend. Misses the ball and is struck on the pads. They appeal and the finger is up. Dushmantha Chameera takes the DRS but it's of no use.  Chameera is plumb. Three reds on the Ball Tracker. Sri Lanka lose their 8th wicket and are in danger of getting bowled out within the 20 overs.

Praveen Jayawickrama arrives at Number 10!

Walks forward and works it in the gap on the leg side for a run.

Review!

Loopy and around leg, Asalanka is forward as he tries to flick. But the ball takes the leading edge and loops up in the air. It falls safely at short mid-wicket.

Turn and bounce from around off, Charith Asalanka goes back to cut but it spins back in and cramps him for room. The ball takes the gloves and raps him on the pads.

Tossed up ball on middle, flicked on the leg side but straight to square leg.

Flatter and shorter on off, Asalanka pushes it down to long on for a single. 4-0-20-3, Shamsi has bowled out. Fantastic effort.

Fuller in length around off, Chameera drives it down to long off for a single.

Shout for an lbw! Sharp spin into the batsman, from around off, Dushmantha Chameera tries to defend but it beats the bat and pings him on the pads. The bowler is convinced as he appeals but nothing from the umpire. Shamsi gets no support from de Kock. Going down leg!

Will Bjorn Fortuin bowl out or will we see a bowling change?

OUT! That's an absolute beauty. Shamsi gets his third. Floated one, full and landing outside off, Chamika Karunaratne presses forward to drive it through the line but it curls back in sharply to take a bit of an inside edge and rattles the stumps behind. The third umpire checks for the no ball, both for the front foot and the back leg, but Tabraiz Shamsi is fine on both counts.

Dushmantha Chameera comes into the middle!

Spinning away from the batsman after landing around off, Charith plays it late and taps it down to point for one. 100 up!

Short in length and outside off, Charith goes deep inside the crease and pulls it to wide long on for two.

Quicker and flatter on off, an arm ball, Chamika goes back inside the crease and defends. Tidy stuff. 30 more legal balls left in the innings.

Fine stop! A full toss on middle, punched straight back and it's stopped brilliantly with a dive from Bjorn.

Beauty! Slower through the air, full and around off, spinning away, Karunaratne tries to defend but it turns past his blade.

Wide! Bjorn Fortuin loses his grip and serves it way wide outside off. Chamika Karunaratne leaves it.

Loopy and on middle, Asalanka clips it behind square leg and rotates the strike.

Flatter one, around middle and skidding in, it's knocked down to long on for one.

Play and a miss! Bjorn Fortuin bowls it short and wide outside off, Karunaratne gets back to cut but misses.

Markram pulls his length back and delivers it on middle, Chamika works it again in the gap at mid-wicket, only for a run this time. 7 from the over!

Chamika Karunaratne leans forward to a full ball and wrists it softly through mid-wicket for another brace.

Slightly short and on off, Charith moves back inside the crease and eases it through mid-wicket for one.

Quicker one, full and around leg, it's worked wide of short fine leg for a run.

Floated one, full and around off, Chamika Karunaratne is forward as he defends it back.

Flatter delivery on middle and leg, Chamika gets back and helps it through mid-wicket for a couple.

On middle, pushed through mid on for a single.

Chamika Karunaratne is the new batter in!

OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! The spinners of the Saffas are running through the batting lineup of the hosts and the sixth one falls! Bjorn Fortuin serves this quicker, flatter too, around off, it zips through after hitting the deck. Wanindu Hasaranga goes back and looks to slash this one away but misses and the ball goes onto hit the off pole. Fortuin gets his first and the Lankans are slipping further.

Fullish, outside off, sliced over cover-point for a single. They wanted another but it was not there to be taken. Just the single.

A touch short, on middle, Wanindu Hasaranga goes back and hooks this one to deep mid-wicket and rotates the strike.

A single as this is tapped towards backward point by Charith.

Full, on off, hit back to the bowler.

The googly, outside off, Hasaranga leans back and flashes but misses. 5 from Shamsi's 3rd over!

On middle again, pushed to the leg side for one.

On middle, Wanindu Hasaranga dances down and heaves this towards deep mid-wicket. The batters take two but Bjorn Fortuin misfields in the deep, which allows the batters to take the third.

Fuller, floated, wider outside off, Hasaranga looks to drive but the ball takes the underedge, takes de Kock's boot and goes to the leg side.

Floated, around off, pushed back to the bowler.

Shorter, around off, Charith looks to defend but the outside edge takes the ball past point for a run.

Flatter, around off, pushed away to the point region. Another successful over for the visitors!

Out walks Wanindu Hasaranga!

OUT! LBW! Markram strikes again and half the Sri Lankan side is back in the shed now. The review does not work out for Perera and he walks off, even before the Ball Tracker can come on, as after the replays show that there was no bat, he knows that this would be plumb. Fuller, loopy, around off, Perera gets low and looks to sweep but misses and gets hit on the thigh pad. An appeal and the finger goes up. Perera probably knows this is out but he opts for the review. Ball Tracker confirms his fears as it shows three reds. He was looking good out in the middle but he is not able to continue.

Full, on off, Kusal looks to dig this one out, but the ball takes the inside edge and hits him on his boot.

On the pads again, fuller, worked to the on side for one.

On the pads, nurdled to the short fine leg region for one.

Outside off, slapped past point for a single.

TWO BYES. Floated, landing outside off, spins away as Kusal Perera looks to have a poke but misses. De Kock fails to collect too and the batters take a couple.

A single as this is flicked through mid-wicket.

Around off, pushed away towards point.

WIDE. This is slipped down the leg side, Charith Asalanka misses his shot. Wide signalled.

Floated, on off, kept out.

The new man walks in.

OUT! BOWLED 'EM! That is a brilliant comeback from Shamsi and that is a huge, huge wicket. Shamsi has the last laugh and he gives Shanaka a bit of a send-off. After getting hit for a big six, he removes Shanaka and South Africa are doing very well in this phase. Shamsi floats this one up, lands it around off, the ball lands and spins in as Dasun Shanaka comes down the track and looks to work this across the line, but he misses. The ball goes onto crash into the furniture behind. Sri Lanka in a spot of bother now!

SIX! Brilliant! This time, Shanaka connects well and gets a biggie! This is floated up, lands fuller, around off, Dasun Shanaka pumps this one over the long off fence this time.

A single as Dasun Shanaka flicks this through square leg. Just 5 from this over!

Flatter, on middle and leg, KP gets low and just tickles this towards short fine leg for a quick single.

Quicker, fuller, on middle, Dasun Shanaka comes down and hits this wide of the long on fielder. But, it will only be for a single.

On middle, tucked to mid-wicket.

Down the leg side, Perera looks to tuck but misses as the ball takes the pad and goes to the left of short fine leg. A leg bye taken.

Loopy, on middle, milked to long on for one.

A top over by Shamsi! Just two runs and a wicket off it! On middle, flicked through square leg and Shanaka gets underway with a single!

Floated, on middle, spins in, Dasun nudges this but only to the short fine leg fielder.

Who walks out?

OUT! STUMPED! It does not take long for Shamsi to get a wicket and the third one falls. That was very well bowled and Shamsi is loving it! Tabraiz serves this slightly shorter, outside off, as he sees Dhananjaya de Silva dancing down the track. The ball lands and spins in, as de Silva fails to connect bat with ball. Quinton de Kock collects and breaks the stumps off in a flash and that is the end of de Silva's innings.

Around off, hit to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Full again, outside off, Perera brings out the reverse sweep but fails to connect again.

Shamsi starts with a floater, outside off, Perera prods ahead and looks to put bat on ball, but the ball spins away and evades the bat.

Change in bowling. Here's Tabraiz Shamsi!

On middle, Perera gets low and sweeps to the man at deep square leg for one. 6 off Maharaj's first over!

This is whipped nicely to the right of the deep square leg fielder for a couple of runs.

A touch flatter, on the pads, nudged through mid-wicket for one.

On the pads, tucked to short fine leg for a run.

Around off, hit hard down the ground towards long on for a run.

Flatter, around off, de Silva blocks this out.

Change.

Outside off, guided through short third man for one. Sri Lanka are at 52/2 at the end of the Powerplay!

On middle, dropped to the leg side for one.

SIX! Kusal Perera is showing no respect to Kagiso Rabada as he is taking him on! Again, on a length, closer to off, in the arc and Kusal Perera flexes his muscles and bangs this one over long on for a massive hit.

FOUR! BANG! That was hit ferociously by Perera. On a length, outside off, Kusal Perera makes room and smokes this one through mid off and the ball speeds away to the ropes.

Dhananjaya de Silva gets off the mark! Short of a length, around off, dabbed towards short third man for a single.

Back of a length, on off, tapped to the leg side for one.

The new man is in.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Markram gets a wicket and Sri Lanka lose their second one. Bhanuka Rajapaksa was looking very good but he will be livid with himself as he gets himself out on a full toss. This should have been dispatched but he will have to walk back to the shed. A full toss, around off and middle, Bhanuka Rajapaksa skips down and only manages to hit this back towards Markram, who gets low, to his left, and pouches this.

On middle, defended out.

FOUR! A full toss and Bhanuka Rajapaksa does not miss out on this. This is bowled on the pads, Bhanuka Rajapaksa gets low and just sweeps this one over the short fine leg fielder and gets a boundary.

FOUR! Very well played. Bhanuka Rajapaksa has played a couple of confident strokes. Fuller, floated, around off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa moves to the off side and just lofts this one over the cover region for a boundary.

TWO WIDES. This is bowled down the leg side, Kusal looks to sweep but misses and the keeper fumbles too, which lets the batters take one.

NOT OUT! This was close but umpire's call on impact sees Kusal Perera survive. Markram floats this one up, lands it fuller around off, Perera skips down the track and looks to work this to the leg side but misses and gets pinged on the pad. An appeal but the umpire says no. Keshav Maharaj opts for the review. No bat on this, but Ball Tracker shows that the impact was umpire's call, even though the ball would have hit the stumps. Will remain not out.

Review time!

Floated, on the pads, nudged through mid-wicket for one.

Aiden Markram to roll his arm now!

A touch short, outside off, Bhanuka looks to pull but gets the top edge towards third man for a single.

Looks like the rain has eased off and we are ready to get the action underway again! The South African players make their way out and the batters of Sri Lanka follow them out too. Anrich Nortje will complete his over now.

Update 7.19 pm local (1.49 pm GMT) - Uh oh! Looks like we spoke too soon. The rain has come back for second servings and this time, it is slightly heavier, than it was the last time. The groundsmen come out and the covers are spread out as well. Let's hope that it is just a passing shower and we continue soon. Looks like the covers are being taken off now. Does not look like we will be having too much of a delay.

This time, Bhanuka Rajapaksa moves leg side and looks to cut this shortish ball to the off side, but the ball flashes over his blade and goes to the keeper. Some words exchanged between Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Anrich Nortje too!

Hits the deck hard and around off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa goes back and looks to slash it away but again misses his shot.

Shortish, outside off, Bhanuka looks to play this late but misses again.

A slower length ball, outside off, Bhanuka looks to cut but gets beaten by the lack of pace.

It was drizzling in the middle and the groundsmen have run out into the middle. But, by the time they come into the middle, the drizzle has eased down by a lot. The umpires decide that they will continue playing and the players get back into position.

Around off, hit towards the mid off fielder for a single.

SIX! WOW! That was very well hit. A confident shot. On a length again, around off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa makes room and just tonks this one over the extra cover fielder for a biggie.

FOUR! Bhanuka Rajapaksa gets off the mark with a boundary! A good shot by him! A short ball, around off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa powers this one towards fine leg. Aiden Markram runs to his right in the deep, but the ball bounces just before the ropes and goes past as well.

Length around off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa pushes this to the left of the cover fielder, who stops the ball well.

Quick run! A slower back-of-a-length delivery on off, KP taps this to the leg side and scampers through for the run. The fielder fires a throw at the non-striker's end and hits too, but Perera was well in.

FOUR! That was a cracking hit! The first boundary of the game! On a length, around off, in the slot too, Kusal Perera muscles this one over the mid on fielder and the ball finds its way to the ropes.

Shortish, on off, KP punches this, but only finds the point fielder.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa walks out!

OUT! CAUGHT! Number one down and Nortje strikes in his first over! An easy take for the fielder and the Saffas have drawn first blood. Anrich serves a slower bouncer, around off, Chandimal lines up to play the pull shot, but only manages to flat-bat it towards the mid on fielder. Keshav Maharaj, the skipper, gulps this one down easily, by moving to his right. Nortje is pumped and this is a great start by the Proteas!

A touch short, pacy, on the body, Perera pulls this straight to the man at deep square leg for a run.

On a length, outside off, Dinesh Chandimal swings hard at this and the ball takes the outside edge and runs down to third man for one.

On a length, wider outside off, punched to the fielder at mid off for a quick single.

Shortish this time, outside off, Kusal slaps this behind point this time and collects a brace.

Nortje starts off with a length delivery on the pads, Chandimal flicks this aerially over square leg and the ball bounces just before the man in the deep. One run.

On the pads this time, Dinesh flicks this towards the man at square leg, who misfields and allows a run. 4 off the opening over!

Who will bowl now?

Dinesh Chandimal is off the mark with a couple! Quicker, darted on the pads, this is tucked through mid-wicket by Chandimal for a couple of runs.

This is again tossed up, fuller around off, Chandimal pushes this one back to the bowler.

Tossed up, around off, Dinesh only defends this one out.

This is darted on the pads, Dinesh looks to flick but misses and gets hit on the pads.

Sri Lanka and Kusal Perera open their account on ball one! Bjorn Fortuin starts with a flatter ball, on the pads, Perera tucks this through mid-wicket and gets a run.

Right. We are done with all the pre-match formalities as the action is all set to begin. The South African players have already spread out on the field and the openers of Sri Lanka, Kusal Perera and Dinesh Chandimal make their way out too. Spin to begin the game as Bjorn Fortuin will roll his arm. Here we go...

Keshav Maharaj, the South African skipper, says that they wanted to bat first but this is a good wicket and hopes that they can restrict the Lankans to a low score. Informs that they have one change as Rassie van der Dussen comes in and David Miller misses out.

The Sri Lankan captain, Dasun Shanaka, says that batting first has an advantage and runs on the board always counts and that is the idea. Adds that they can do well in this game and they need to do better in the Powerplay. Informs that they have a couple of changes to their side.

PITCH REPORT - Farveez Maharoof says that the deck is pretty hard and it looks dry as well. Says that it will be tough for the batters when the ball gets old and is slightly used. Ends by saying that this is still a decent deck to bat on.

Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Kusal Perera (In place of Avishka Fernando), Dinesh Chandimal (WK), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Praveen Jayawickrama (In place of Akila Dananjaya), Maheesh Theekshana.

South Africa (Playing XI) - Quinton de Kock (WK), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen (In place of David Miller), Heinrich Klaasen, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj (C), Bjorn Fortuin, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.

TOSS - Up goes the coin and lands in the favor of Sri Lanka. They have elected to BAT first.

Hello and a warm welcome to the second T20I between Sri Lanka and South Africa. The first game between these two went the way of the Africans and they will head into this game with confidence on their side. They batted well and also bowled superbly and will look to replicate the same. The Lankans, on the other hand, will be on the back foot and will want to bounce back to winning ways as if they lose this clash, they will lose the series too. Let's hope that we have a close game of cricket. Toss and team news up in a bit.

... MATCH DAY ...