South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd T20I Match Summary

Right! That ends a highly exciting match. It looked like Sri Lanka will win the game quite easily after bundling out the Saffas for 113 but the hosts fought hard and took it till the final over. That sets up the third and final T20I quite nicely. It will be played at Newlands, Cape Town. The action begins on Wednesday, 25th January, 2017, at 1800 local time (1600 GMT). Do join us then. Adios! Take Care!

Victorious Sri Lankan captain and the MAN OF THE MATCH, ANGELO MATHEWS, is happy with the win but is disappointed with his sore ankle. He says it looks very bad and might be out for 3-4 weeks. Feels that this win will give them a boost as their morale was really down. Hopes that his side wins the series in Cape Town. On his calm batting, he says that someone had to take the responsibility of batting through and he took it on his shoulders. On his chat with Chandimal during their partnership, he says that the message was to only try and bat through. On not running in that final over, Mathews says that he had hurt his ankle and hence could not run.

South African skipper, FARHAAN BEHARDIEN praises his bowlers for fighting so hard. Admits that the Protea batsmen did not bat quickly enough and could not adapt to the conditions. Feels that the batsmen could have taken some time to assess the conditions. Has a lot of praise for Lungi Ngidi who picked up 4 wickets and kept South Africa in the game. Is confident that his side can bounce back for the final T20I.

Brilliant bowling from the Proteas. They bowled with a lot of heart and almost defended a paltry 113. Lungi Ngidi continued his good form and picked up 4 wickets while the others were economical. Phehlukwayo was the only disappointment, going for 22 in 2 overs. If he had managed to pick up a wicket or two, the Proteas might have won. Stay tuned for the presentation.

The run chase now looked in control for the Lankans but Chandimal had a brain fade and threw his wicket away. That led to a couple of more wickets and suddenly, South Africa pounced. Mathews was almost dismissed in the final over but Kuhn put down a tough chance and the Lankan skipper sealed the game for his side.

The star of the previous game, Lungi Ngidi, started well for the home side, nipping out 3 wickets in 3 overs. It was a combination of good bowling and poor shots from the Lankans, as they slipped to 35/3 in the 5th over. But captain Angelo Mathews and vice captain Dinesh Chandimal eased the nerves, with a 51-run stand for the fourth wicket.

What a game. Angelo Mathews, the charismatic skipper with the Midas touch has taken his side home. The run chase should have been sealed pretty comfortably but the Lankans choked themselves out in the middle.

SIX! That ends the game! Mathews charges down the track again and sends this soaring over long on for another maximum! SRI LANKA WIN BY 3 WICKETS AND THE TWO MATCH SERIES IS LEVEL 1-1!

Outside off, punched down the ground but mid on cuts it off. Mathews does not run again.

SIX! Ho ho ho! Insult to injury! Tossed up on middle and leg, Mathews jumps down the track and swings this way over long on! The scores are level!

DROPPED! Has he dropped the match? A length ball on middle, Mathews swings hard towards deep mid-wicket but cannot get enough power. The ball goes towards the fielder where Heino Kuhn comes running in but cannot hold on to the catch! That could have been a game-changer. The batsmen do not run and Kulasekara is sent back by a furious-looking Mathews.

Last over... 7 runs needed. Is there a surprise in store? Sri Lanka should chase this down but a wicket, especially that of Mathews, will make this interesting.

The batsman has been struck on the thigh pad. They pick up a single. Leg byes given by the umpire.

Mathews is feeling a bit better now.

The physio is out in the middle to tend to Mathews now.

Ouch. Mathews is down! A length ball outside off, Kulasekara looks to pull but is way too early into the shot. He is hit on his back and the ball goes to point. The batsmen go for a quick single and the fielder from point has a shy at the striker's end but misses. Mathews dives in but hurts his hamstring in the process.

NUWAN KULASEKARA walks in at number 9, replacing Thikshila.

OUT! Caught! Thikshila throws it away. A length ball around off, de Silva looks to pull but the ball gets high on him and he miscues the pull! Farhaan Behardien comes in from mid on and takes it calmly. 9 NEEDED FROM 8 BALLS WITH 3 WICKETS IN HAND!

Full and straight, pushed towards mid on. Mathews wants a single but is sent back.

Nicely done. Full and outside off, Thikshila opens the face of the bat and guides it behind point for a well-run couple. 9 needed from 10 now.

Full and outside off, calmly driven down to long off for a single.

Punched off the back foot by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Outside off, punched wide of cover or another single.

The batsman has played it to the point region.

Full and outside off, pushed down to long on for one. Moves to 40 from 43 balls.

WIDE. Down the leg side this time, comfortably left alone.

Was that a drop? Nope. Landed outside off, Thikshila looked to defend but the ball spun and bounced past the inside edge and the keeper fumbled it towards square leg. A bye taken.

THIKSHILA DE SILVA walks in at number 8, replacing Prasanna.

OUT! Smuts gets a wicket for the Proteas! What a terrific catch from Tahir. A short ball around middle, Prasanna pulls this over square leg but he does not have enough to clear the ropes. Imran Tahtr at the fence keeps his eyes on the ball and takes it just inside the ropes! 17 NEEDED FROM 17 BALLS NOW!

JJ SMUTS comes back on to bowl the 18th over.