Watch – Imran Tahir Bids an Emotional Goodbye to his Home Ground Durban
Mar 11, 2019 at 8:03 PM
The veteran South Africa Cricket team leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who announced his retirement last week played the last one-day international on his home turf, Durban during the third ODI against Sri Lanka on March 10 (Sunday). Meanwhile, the Proteas have already wrapped up the five-match series winning the first three games.
South Africa wraps up the series
Imran Tahir announced last week that he would be retiring from ODI cricket at the end of this year’s ICC World Cup in England and Wales. As a result, he now has just two ODIs – the 4th and 5th ODIs against Sri Lanka in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, respectively – left on home soil. Tahir, moreover, finished on a winning note beating the Lankans by 71 runs. On the personal note, Imran Tahir also had a good outing as he returned with two for 19 from his five overs.
Sri Lanka had a very slim chance once play resumed after the rain break as they needed 118 off 48. Moreover, losing Oshada Fernando in the first over did not help either. Kusal Mendis kept going though smashing a couple of sixes off Tabraiz Shamsi, but Imran Tahir sent him packing in the very next over to seal the game. Before rain stopped play, the visitors were rocked early as Niroshan Dickwella went for a low score and Avishka Fernando threw away a start. Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi were excellent at the top, bowling with a lot of zeal and hitting the bat hard and in the process accounting for the openers.
Previosuly, Quinton de Kock scored a century with significant contributions from all the middle-order batsmen helped South Africa post 331 runs on the board. The batters putting in significant contributions will keep the Poteas side confident as they march toward the showdown event in the UK.
Tahir bids an emotional goodbye
Soon after the game, Imran Tahir took to Twitter to share an emotional message with the fans. He thanked Cricket South Africa for giving him the opportunity to represent his country and also admitted that it was fun to have his family in the ground.
“Played my last ODI in my home town Durban.Quite an emotional moment for me.Really enjoyed it and lovely to have my family around me.Thank you
@OfficialCSA#Forever grateful keep the fire burning manne,” Imran Tahir tweeted after the game.
Watch the tweet here:
Played my last ODI in my home town Durban.Quite an emotional moment for me.Really enjoyed it and lovely to have my family around me.Thank you @OfficialCSA #Forever grateful keep the fire burning manne pic.twitter.com/J7oRgE36kj
— Imran Tahir (@ImranTahirSA) March 10, 2019