Hashim Amla struck an unbeaten 56 as South Africa eased to an eight-wicket win over defending champions Sri Lanka in the final match of the Super 10 stage of the World Twenty20.
Amla guided the Proteas to their target of 121 with 14 balls left to complete a miserable tournament for Sri Lanka, who won just one of their four games to finish level with Afghanistan on points.
With both sides already eliminated from the tournament, only a consolation win was on offer to the victors and South Africa cruised it despite a solid start by their opponents.
Dinesh Chandimal, leading the side in the absence of the injured Lasith Malinga (hamstring), put on 45 for the first wicket with Tillakaratne Dilshan (36) in under five overs but when the wheels fell off, they did quickly.
Dilshan welcomed Aaron Phangiso (2-26) into the attack by swatting the left-armer for 10 off two balls but the spinner gained quick revenge by bowling Chandimal and Lahu Thirimanne through the gate with successive deliveries.
Just when Sri Lanka seemed back on track with a third-wicket stand of 30, Milinda Siriwardana (15) was sent back by Dilshan as he attempted to pinch a single to mid-wicket only to be run out by a distance.
A score of 75-3 became 78-4 as Shehan Jayasuriya looped a catch to cover and seven runs later Dilshan was on his way, trapped lbw on the sweep by Farhaan Behardien.
Chamara Kapugedera had no answer to Imran Tahir's googly before recalled paceman Dale Steyn claimed his first wicket of the tournament, Thisara Perera picking out Behardien at cover.
Sri Lanka's last five wickets fell for 35 runs and a total of 120 off 19.3 overs never looked enough even when Quinton de Kock was run out by Dilshan's throw for nine.
Faf du Plessis (31) made light work of knocking off the runs until he fell to a terrible lbw decision, given out as he attempted to scoop despite a big inside edge.
Amla went on to post his fifty off 47 balls, passing 1,000 career T20 runs in the process, before AB de Villiers swung a Suranga Lakmal full toss for six to end the match in emphatic style.
No comments:
Post a Comment