Sri Lanka secures tight but easy win against South Africa

Sidelights – ICC World T20 | South Africa Vs Sri Lanka

The second of the serious matches and what a match it was! If India Vs Pakistan game on the other night was a one sided affair than this match was a bit closer, but still Sri Lanka was controlling it through out if one may say so. It was only because of the big boys’ entry into the tournament pushed to score to 160s from what the minnows have done in previous matches at Chittagong. But looking at South Africa’s batting lineup even 165 was looking par but none of the South African batsman could go on and made half century or more which would have helped them securing the win. In the end the match looks close if you check the score card but in the end Sri Lanka only had few tense minutes.

ICC World T20 | Match 14 | Group 1 | South Africa Vs Sri Lanka

Venue: Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong

Toss: Sri Lanka and chose to bat

Playing XIs:

Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera, Tillakratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Sachithra Senanayake, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga

South Africa: Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, Jean Paul Duminy, Abraham de Villiers, David Miller, Albie Morkel, Farhaan Bahardien, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir

Mini Score Card:

Sri Lanka 165/7 (20) – Kusal Parera 61 (40) | Imran Tahir 3/26 (4)

South Africa 160/8 (20) – Jean Paul Duminy 39 (30) | Sachitra Senanayake 2/22

Result: Sri Lanka won by 5 runs

Points: Sri Lanka 2, South Africa 0

Man of the match: Kusal Parera (Sri Lanka)

Umpires: S Ravi (India) | Rod Tucker (Australia) | Aleem Dar (3^rd – Pakistan) | Paul Reiffel (Reserve – Australia)

Match Referee: Javagal Srinath (India)

How they played the game

Powerplay: Sri Lanka 51, 2 wickets | South Africa 40 runs, 1 wicket

First 50 runs: Sri Lanka 35 balls | South Africa 49 balls

From 50-100: Sri Lanka 41 balls | South Africa 26 balls

From 100-150: Sri Lanka 33 balls | South Africa 36 balls

Best Partnership

Sri Lanka – 3^rd Wicket 41 runs off 33 balls | Contributors: Kusal Perera 22 (15) and Kumar Sangakkara 14 (18)

South Africa – 2^nd Wicket 50 runs off 38 balls | Contributors: Jean Paul Duminy 30 (21) and Hashim Amla 17 (17)

Fours

Sri Lanka – 14 (6- Kusal Perera | 3 – Angelo Mathews | 1 – Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Thissara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara)

South Africa – 13 (4 – Quinton de Kock | 3 – Jean Paul Duminy, Abraham de Villiers | 2 – Hashim Amla | 1 – David Miller)

SIXERS

Sri Lanka – 4 (3- Kusal Perera | 1 – Angelo Matthews)

South Africa – 6 (2 – Jean Paul Duminy, Albie Morkel | 1 – Quinton de Kock, Imran Tahir)

Important facts about the match

• Sri Lanka has lost only twice after scoring 160+ batting first
• 3/30 is the best bowling performance by Imran Tahir in T20I
• This was 4^th consecutive loss by South Africa in the ICC World T20
• Dale Steyn went for 17 runs in the first over which equaled the record of most expensive first over in the T20I, held by Calum Macleod (Scotland) Vs New Zealand. (ICC World T20 – 2009)

In the pic: Kusal Perera hits across the leg side

Pic Courtesy: ESPN Cricinfo