Postpublished at 17:39 British Summer Time 7 October 2023
Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special
That was almost like a backhanded tennis swat from Kasun Rajitha! He's absolutely nailed it, though.
Summary
Mendis (76), Asalanka (79) & Shanaka (68) hit defiant, rapid fifties
But Sri Lanka are eventually bowled out for 326 to lose by 102 runs
South Africa post 428-5 - highest total in World Cup history
Markram smacks century off 49 balls - fastest in Men's World Cups - before falling for 106
Van der Dussen and De Kock also hit sublime centuries
Postpublished at 17:39 British Summer Time 7 October 2023
SL 318-8published at 42.2 overs
Six more for Rajitha! Cramped for room by a Jansen short ball, he slaps it tennis-style over long-on, spinning around in the follow-through.
That was preceded by a classy drive over mid-off for four. Classier, that one.
Postpublished at 17:36 British Summer Time 7 October 2023
Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match SpecialI love a short ball as a tail ender, because I might be able to bob and weave to get out the way. If you target the stumps well...I'm number 11 for a reason. South Africa bowlers, take note.
SL 307-8published at 42 overs
Gerald Coetzee returns, having been chastened by Shanaka the prospect of bowling to Matheesha Pathirana is more enticing.
The Sri Lankan tail ender takes a big swing and the ball flies away for four through backward point. Around that we get five dots.
SL 303-8published at 41 overs
Kasun Rajitha hits three fours off Marco Jansen to take his side past 300.
He slices a drive through the covers, then the second four is in the same areas but loftier - I'm not sure he got much sight of that, he flung his head back at the moment of impact.
A pull then reaches the ropes for four more.
SL 291-8published at 40 overs
Matheesha Pathirana is the next man in and he plays out two dot balls to end the over.
Postpublished at 17:23 British Summer Time 7 October 2023
Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match SpecialIt was a bit of of a nothing shot from Dasun Shanaka. No shot whatsoever, really. He didn't move his feet at all.
WICKETpublished at 39.4 overs
Shanaka b Maharaj 68 (SL 291-8)
Shanaka finally departs!
Maharaj fires a wide down the leg-side that races away for five runs, before Shanaka edges for another four down to fine leg.
The South African spinner tightens up with a dot, before getting his man, breaking the Sri Lankan captain's stumps.
SL 282-7published at 39.1 overs
Another slice of defiance from Shanaka, stepping back to heave Maharaj over long-on, just part the outstretched hand of the diving Rabada.
SL 276-7published at 39 overs
Marco Jansen replaces Gerald Coetzee in the attack after he suffered at the hands of Shanaka.
A tighter over from the South Africa all-rounder, just four singles coming from it.
Postpublished at 17:16 British Summer Time 7 October 2023
Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match SpecialIt wasn't a great review and South Africa's players know it from the way they are milling round. They might have just wanted a bit of a break and a drink.
Not outpublished at 38 overs
SL 273-7
Nope, it looked like it was heading down leg and so it proved.
Maharaj finishes the over with a cracking delivery that beats Rajitha's bat.
Umpire reviewpublished at 37.5 overs
Keshav Maharaj thinks he has Kasun Rajitha lbw. The umpire doesn't agree, but South Africa have gone upstairs.
May as well at this stage.
Postpublished at 17:14 British Summer Time 7 October 2023
Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match SpecialThere is an opportunity for Dasun Shanaka to gain some confidence here. He's been out of rhythm and out of form. It's important your captain doesn't have a question mark over their place in the team as a specialist batter down at seven. A good innings here might give him the confidence to go on and show his leadership throughout the rest of the tournament.
SL 269-7published at 37 overs
Two more fours and that's Shanaka's half century!
He drives down the ground again, before pulling through backward square to reach the landmark. He can't quite make it a boundary from every ball of the over, taking a single - just the 23 from it.
His fifty came at a run a ball - he was on 31 from 45 before this over.
SL 260-6published at 36.3 overs
Oh hello, Dasun Shanaka has woken up.
A wild attempt at pull shot off Coetzee draws a meaty top edge that flies away for six.
He then hits two successive fours, driving down the ground and then cutting uppishly to move to 45.
SL 246-7published at 36 overs
Two more singles for Sri Lanka off Ngidi. I'm not really sure what this achieving.
Let's remind ourselves of happier times, with the best of Asalanka's innings.
Postpublished at 17:04 British Summer Time 7 October 2023
Steven Finn
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match SpecialI want to see Sri Lanka going for it. If you just eke out runs to the end it does nothing for the intent you want to show in the rest of the tournament.
SL 244-7published at 35 overs
Sri Lanka work Gerald Coetzee around, but we haven't seen a boundary since the wicket of Asalanka.
Rajitha jams his bat down to try and squeeze the bat through backward point but it's cut off by David Miller, who's sporting some lurid fluorescent green boots. I can't say they go with the South African, or indeed any, kit.
SL 238-7published at 34 overs
Three singles from Lungi Ngidi's over, two behind square and one to point.
It remains to be seen whether South Africa force an early conclusion - for the game is surely theirs - but while we wait let's take another look at Ngidi removing Asalanka.