All-round Tryon clinches victory for South Africa

Player of the match Chloe Tryon claimed a hat-trick and a five-wicket haul as well as striking a sizzling half-century to lead South Africa to a 76-run victory over Sri Lanka in their final match in the women’s tri-nations series at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday.

Annerie Dercksen struck a superb maiden ODI century to also help South Africa’s cause in what was their first win in the tournament. Though they will travel back home on a high, Sunday’s final will be contested by India and the host nation.

“It was nice to get that last win,” commented SA skipper Laura Wolvaardt, “and everyone played so well. It doesn’t happen that we score 300 twice in a row, so we’re definitely doing something right with the bat. Dercksen is having a breakthrough season and it’s great to see the youngsters turning up as well.”

Left-arm spinner Tyron struck in the 42nd over with the match seemingly in the balance to dismiss Dewmi Vihanga, brilliantly caught by a diving Nadine de Klerk at deep square-leg, Sugandika Kumari (also caught by De Klerk) and Malki Madara (caught by wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta) with consecutive deliveries. From 227 for six, Sri Lanka’s race was suddenly run as they finished on 239 all out in 42.5 overs.

The hosts had been chasing South Africa’s total of 315 for nine, a formidable total thanks largely to Dercksen’s century and Tyron’s 74. The pair had put on 112 in 88 balls for the seventh wicket after South Africa had slumped to 85 for five and 127 for six.

Sri Lanka had begun their run chase well enough with openers Hasini Perera and Vishmi Gunaratne compiling 52 in 9.2 overs for the first wicket before Tyron struck to dismiss both batters. First Perera was well caught on the midwicket boundary by Dercksen then Gunaratne thick-edged an attempted drive to Laura Goodall at backward point.

Harshita Samarawickrama (33) and skipper Chamari Athapaththu (52) kept Sri Lanka in the hunt with a half-century partnership but both departed prematurely when at least one of them needed to go big. Samarawickrama became debutant legspinner Seshnie Naidu’s first ODI wicket when she drove her tamely to mid-off while Athapaththu sliced Ayabonga Khaka to Dercksen on the cover boundary.

South Africa collected wickets at regular intervals after that and Sri Lanka’s required run-rate approached 10 an over with 10 overs to go. Tyron’s hat-trick then ensured victory.

Earlier, after Sri Lanka had inserted South Africa on another steaming hot day after they had won the toss and looked to chase.

Dercksen and Tryon’s partnership came at the perfect time after their middle-order collapsed following a solid opening partnership between Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits. This was largely due to a devastating first spell from offspinner Vihanga who claimed 5/13 in her first five overs playing just her third ODI for her country. She finished with 5/43 off nine overs.

Well though Vihanga bowled, South Africa would have been disappointed to give away a number of soft dismissals in the top half of their innings after Wolvaardt (captaining the team again after missing the match against India because of food poisoning) and Brits gave them a solid start.

The pair put on 53 in the first power play and 68 by the 14th over before Vihanga struck, finding the edge of Brits’ bat as she pushed forward, offering a low chance to Perera at slip. Brits struck five fours in her 38.

In her next over, Vihanga claimed the vital wicket of Wolvaardt, bowled through a wide gate for 33 in 39 balls.

Lara Goodall (2) and Miane Smit (8) both fell quickly, with the former caught at slip and the latter falling to a slog-sweep straight to midwicket. And when Sinalo Jafta missed an ugly slog to be bowled second ball, South Africa were in trouble. Quite why Jafta batted ahead of Dercksen and Tryon was a mystery. The wicketkeeper has played in 35 ODIs and averages just 11.7. Talented youngster Karabo Meso took her place at the start of the tournament, but was only given two matches.

Nondumiso Shangase got a start (18 in 34 balls) before falling leg before to Athapaththu to leave South Africa teetering on 127 for six.

It was then that Dercksen and Tryon turned the innings around with a hugely impressive century stand. Tryon initially took a back seat as Dercksen, showing good power, technique and temperament, attacked the Sri Lankan bowlers.

The 24-year-old from Beaufort West has been the star turn for the South Africans in this tournament, scoring 30, 61* and 81 before reaching three figures today. In all she struck nine fours and five sixes – the last of which enabled her to reach her century – before she fell bravely in the 44th over, holing out at long-off, largely through exhaustion it appeared.

If Dercksen dominated the partnership with Tryon, scoring 77 to Tryon’s 30, the latter immediately put her foot down after Dercksen’s dismissal, accelerating to reach 74 in 51 balls (4x4s, 5x6s) as she and Nadine de Klerk (32* in 19 balls) blasted 66 off 30 balls for the eighth wicket to take South Africa past 300.

Sri Lanka’s woes were partly of their own making as they dropped a number of crucial catches. Dercksen was dropped twice and two other catches went down.

South Africa: Tazmin Brits, Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Laura Goodall, Miane Smit, Nondumiso Shangase, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Chloe Tryon, Annerie Dercksen, Nadine de Klerk, Seshnie Naidu, Ayabonga Khaka

Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (capt.), Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Manudi Nanayakkar, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Dewmini Vihanga, Malki Madara, Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Fernando.