World T20 T20 World Cup: South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 5 wickets
Sharjah/UNI: South Africa churned out a crucial four-wicket win over Sri Lanka, as the latter saw a hat-trick from Wanindu Hasaranga (3/20) and a half-century from Pathum Nissanka go in vain in the Super 12 encounter of ICC T20 World Cup here on Saturday.
Chasing 143, South Africa had to bat deep with David Miller firing a 13-ball 23* to help the side reach the target with a ball to spare after Hasaranga's hat-trick in the death overs left the Proteas in the lurch. Apart from Miller, skipper Temba Bavuma contributed a run a-ball 46 while Dusmanth Chameera picked two wickets for the Lankans.
With this win, South Africa are in contention for the top spot in Group 1 with England and Australia while Sri Lanka dropped to the fourth place in the six-team group.
Earlier, Proteas bowlers justified Bavuma's decision to bowl first by bowling out Sri Lanka for 142 by the end of 20th over. Tabraiz Shasmi and Dwaine Pretorious retained identical bowling figures of 3/17 while Anrich Nortje picked two wickets. Among Lankan batters only Nissanka shone with a 58-ball 72 while Charith Asalanka contributed 21 runs of 14 balls.
Chasing the target, Quinton de Kock (12 off 10) and Reeza Hendricks (11 off 12) departed simultaneously after adding 26 runs to the board by the fourth over. Newly-in Rassie Van der Dussen (16 off 11) couldn't consolidate on a good start as well as the African side could reach 62/3 at the halfway mark of the innings.
Skipper Bavuma then became the fulcrum of the chase while Aiden Markram (19 off 20) added 46 runs with the opener for the fourth wicket. Hasaranga then removed the two batters in quick succession, along with Pretorious for a duck, to shift the momentum in Sri Lanka's favour.
However, Miller saw off the chase in the closing overs while getting a helping hand from tailender Kagiso Rabada (13*off 7).
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