Sri Lanka face more attacks

TOP FORM: Lonwabo Tsotsobe of South Africa bowls during the 1st One Day International match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Boland Park in Paarl this week. Photo: Gallo Images
TOP FORM: Lonwabo Tsotsobe of South Africa bowls during the 1st One Day International match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Boland Park in Paarl this week. Photo: Gallo Images

SRI Lanka can expect more strangulation from the South African bowlers if Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Morné Morkel's performance in Paarl is anything to go by.

The pair broke the back of the Sri Lankan line-up with seven wickets in 11 overs between them.

The performance was particularly pertinent for Tsotsobe, who was making his return to international cricket after an absence of more than 10 weeks.

Tsotsobe was injured in the build-up to the Australia series in November and had not bowled competitively since last week.

"It was most impressive to see him come back in that fashion," said former South African bowling coach Vincent Barnes.

"It was good for him to play in the four-day game the week before because he needed to get some match time before the one-day series."

Tsotsobe turned out for the Warriors against the Titans and took four wickets in his first six overs to finish with a match haul of seven.

He was immediately named in the national starting XI to take on Sri Lanka. Along with Morkel, Tsotsobe made use of his height to generate good bounce from a dry, flat pitch.

South Africa will play on similarly slow and low venues for three of the remaining four matches in the series. East London, Kimberley and Bloemfontein will need the bowlers to put in the same kind of effort they did in Paarl.

The attacks have set the bar high after they routed Sri Lanka for 43 and will have to stay grounded if they are to push the advantage. Barnes said it will be crucial for them not to get carried away by the big win.

"They will have to move on from there and make sure not to take the foot off the pedal. South Africa have a fantastic bowling attack and they should be able to win well again," Barnes said.

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