Sri Lanka: Red Bull Cricket Campus World Final by Musthaq Thasleem
Red Bull Cricket Campus world final between South Africa and the Sri Lanka at Galle International Cricket Ground on September 16, 2017 in, Sri Lanka
The two unbeaten teams in the tournament; Sri Lanka, the defending champions and South Africa, two-time champions deservedly booked their places in the finals after they beat Australia and Bangladesh in the semifinals respectively on Spetember 15, 2017. In the finals played at Galle Stadium on Spetember 16, 2017. South Africa playing day’s best cricket recorded a crushing-win over defending champions, Sri Lanka to win 2017 RBCC World finals for the third time in its history.
South Africa won the toss and inserted Sri Lanka seizing the opportunity for their seamers to get early breakthroughs on a seaming wicket and their bowlers especially the fast-men justified their skipper’s decision to bowl first as Sri Lanka lost half their side for just 51 runs inside first 10 overs with three top-order batsmen, Geshan Wimaladharma, Janith Liyanage and Supeshala Jayathilake being dismissed without scoring. The exodus of four regular players from Sri Lanka semifinal lineup, Hashan Dumindu, Lahiru Milantha, Thilaksha Sumanasiri and Vikum Sanjaya to play for their firms in MCA tournament badly hit Lankans batting in this final. Sri Lanka never recovered from this woeful position despite Chamika Karunarathne’s rear-guard 26-ball 29 gave the Sri Lankan innings some respectability in the end. In an innings just four batsmen got into double figures, Sri Lanka scrambled to a total of 121 before they were all out in the 19th over. Lankans final total looked to be an easily assailable for South Africans whose free-scoring top-order stood tall among all other teams in the competition. The two bowlers bowled from the fort end, Julian Soutter and Dyllin metthews captured six wickets at two apiece.
When South Africa started their reply Janneman Malan starting from where he stopped yesterday carried South Africa to a comfortable win with a dashing unbeaten 64 that he scored off just 47 balls with 7 fours and two sixes. Malan was well supported by Marques Ackerman and Ruan Haasbroek in their run-chase. Sri Lanka bowlers failed get early breakthroughs and the target was too small for them to defend against strong South African batting.