In their final Group 1 Super 1- league game of the ICC WT20, South Africa won over Sri Lanka.
With Hashim Amla (56 not out, 52 b) at the wheel, the Proteas, for many one of the pre-tournament favourites chased down Sri Lanka’s meagre 120, eight wickets in hand, riding on the bearded stylist’s half-century to get across the line in 17.4 overs.
AB de Villiers played a perfect counterpoint to Amla, by fittingly knocking off the winning runs with his second six.
Meanwhile, opener Quinton de Kock (9) and skipper Faf du Plessis (30, 36b) performed well, and made the South Africans wonder, what it would need from them to break the hoodoo of a world title despite their fine performances in other forms of competition.
Also read: WT20: India wins, Virat Kohli on high
Earlier, the 2014 champions’ dispirited performance, marked their last outing with the bat. Asked to bat first, Sri Lanka managed a measly 120 in 19.3 overs.
Dilshan was the only batsman to get a total of consequence, scoring a steady 36 out of 40 balls with 4 boundaries and a 6. Just two other batsmen reached the 20s as the South Africans kept things tidy with the ball and in the field.
The match went on a different route in the beginning. Openers Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal got off to a flyer, pounding the pace of Dale Steyn to all parts of the ground.
In just five overs, the Sri Lankans managed to score 45 runs, before SA captain du Plessis opted to take the slow route.
By Phani Ch
