South Africa Seals A Comfortable Win Over Sri Lanka to Save Their Pride

In a less important match, South Africa beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets. Score; Sri Lanka – 120/10, (19.3 overs), South Africa – 122/2 (17.4 overs).

AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla hug each other after taking South Africa home, South Africa v Sri Lanka, World T20 2016, Group 1, Delhi, March 28, 2016 ©Getty Images

DELHI: In a less important match in ICC T20 World Cup Tournament, South Africa beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets. Batting first, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 120 in the third ball of the final over.

Invited to bat first, Sri Lanka got off a good start with openers adding 45 runs in 4.4 overs at a run rate more than nine per over. But Lankans were forced to the backseat with the double strikes on consecutive deliveries of Phangiso. He gave South Africa the first breakthroughs by bowling out Chandimal for 21 (20b, 4x2, 6x1). Then he sent Thirimanne back to the pavilion by uprooting his stumps on the very next ball.

In his anchoring innings, Dilshan scored 36 but he failed to accelerate Lankan innings. His 36 came off 40 deliveries and included four boundaries and a maximum. Once he fell, Lankan batting line-up performed poorly and ended up at 120. It was Shanaka’s quick-fired 20 off 18 deliveries which took them to 120.

For South Africa, F Behardien, Phangiso and KJ Abbott claimed two wickets each. Dale Stayn and Imran Tahir picked one each. Two of the Lankan batsmen were run out.
Chasing a small target of 121, South Africa got off to a good start and runs were piled up as the openers batted fearlessly.

South Africa lost their first wicket in the form of run out in the second over. de Kock was dismissed when he stepped out of the crease for a single. Amla's effort to send him back went in vain as Dilshan's direct throw hit the stumps at non-striker's end. This however did not give Lankans anything to cheer. F du Plessis and Amla batted really well and made the target light. Amla scored 56 from 52 deliveries while du Plessis scored 32 from 36 deliveries.

During the unbeaten knock, Amla also completed 1000 runs in T20 internationals. du Plessis was trapped before the stumps by Lakmal. The decision was proved false in the replays as there was touch on the bat. de Villiers was in a hurry to finish the match. He scored 20 from 12 with the help of a couple of maximums, including the one which registered the win as well.