The South Africa Tour of Sri Lanka T10 Series delivered three action-packed matches in Colombo, showcasing power-hitting, dramatic collapses, unbelievable recoveries and history-making bowling spells. Across just a single day of play, fans witnessed brilliance from both sides, with South Africa eventually claiming the series 2–1, thanks to their superior death-over execution and clutch performances from key all-rounders.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Start Strong but Momentum Shifts Quickly
The opening match set the tone as Sri Lanka posted 111 all out, powered by a fiery 36 (7) from Angelo Mathews and 33 (17) from Dinesh Chandimal. However, South Africa chased it down in style, with Temba Bavuma’s unbeaten 47 (16) anchoring a comfortable victory. Wayne Parnell, delivering a tournament-best 4/17, dismantled Sri Lanka’s lower order and earned Man of the Match honours.
🎯 Match 2: Mathews Creates History With a Hat-Trick
Sri Lanka struck back in emphatic fashion in Match 2, successfully chasing down 135 with over an over to spare. The moment that shook the stadium came in the 8th over, when Angelo Mathews produced a stunning hat-trick, becoming only the third bowler in T10 history (after R. Ashwin and Mohammad Nabi) to achieve the feat.
Mathews finished with a brilliant 4/29, ripping through South Africa’s middle order. With Danushka Gunathilaka’s 45 (18) and Chandimal’s 44 (12) leading the chase, Sri Lanka levelled the series 1–1.
🔥 Match 3: A Final Filled With Chaos, Courage, and a South African Classic
The decider became the most intense match of the series. Sri Lanka blasted their way to 147/7, with explosive cameos from Rajapaksa (32 off 12) and Mathews (28 off 9)*. Yet South Africa responded with nerves of steel.
Quinton de Kock (42 off 15) and Aiden Markram (28 off 8) kept the chase alive, but wickets fell in clusters. Enter Keshav Maharaj, who delivered one of the most decisive all-round performances of the tour: a blistering 20 (6) under pressure, followed by a tournament-defining 3/31 with the ball earlier in the innings.
With just 4 balls left, South Africa crossed the line at 148/8, sealing the series 2–1.
🏆 Player of the Tournament: Keshav Maharaj
While Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal had strong cases, the award went to Keshav Maharaj, whose all-round consistency and match-winning heroics in the decider made him the most impactful performer.
His tournament stats:
- 20 runs (SR 333.33)
- 5 wickets
- Best: 3/31
- Match-winning cameo in the series-decider
- Steady middle-overs control with the ball
Maharaj was not just statistically strong—he delivered when it mattered most.
📌 Tournament Highlights
- First match: South Africa dominate with Parnell’s 4-wicket burst.
- Second match: Angelo Mathews makes history with a T10 hat-trick.
- Third match: An explosive finale ending with South Africa’s last-over victory.
- Top Scorer: Dinesh Chandimal – 112 runs
- Most Wickets: Wayne Parnell – 6 wickets
- Top Striker: Angelo Mathews – SR 400
🎉 A Tournament to Remember
The South Africa Tour of Sri Lanka delivered everything fans expect from T10 cricket—speed, unpredictability, fireworks, and iconic moments. South Africa’s depth and clutch performances secured them the title, but Sri Lanka’s stars ensured the series remains memorable for years to come.