T20 World Cup 2021, SA vs SL (Super 12): Proteas pull off final over thriller to win by 4 wickets
Sri Lanka has succumbed to a four-wicket defeat to South Africa in the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup. Proteas stay in contention for the semis with this win, while Lanka's chances have taken a hit.
FollowIt was a sensational performance from South Africa. On Saturday, it defeated former champion Sri Lanka by four wickets in Group 1's Super 12 clash of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. David Miller changed the course of the game in the final over, as Proteas stays in contention for the semis, while Lanka's chances have taken a hit.
Winning the toss, South African skipper Temba Bavuma opted to chase, as he made a change by bringing in Quinton de Kock for Henrich Klassen, while de Kock agreed to take the knee this time in support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. As for Lanka, captain Dasun Shanaka moved in with the same XI.
LIVE SCORECARD: ICCÂ T20 World Cup 2021, South Africa vs Sri Lanka (Super 12)
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Lanka lost Kusal Perera (7) early in the fourth over of the Powerplay after being knocked over by pacer Anrich Nortje, with 20 runs on the board. However, fellow opener Pathum Nissanka (72) and Charith Asalanka (21) added 41 runs for the second wicket before the latter departed off an unfortunate run out in the ninth, followed by Bhanuka Rajapaksa (0), a run later, in the succeeding over to spinner Tabriaz Shamsi.
At this point, Lanka began to see dismissals regularly, with most falling for single figures. Nissanka fell in the 19th to pacer Dwayne Pretorious, at 131, while Lanka finished at a par total of 142. Proteas put six bowlers into the attack, with Shamsi and Pretorious claiming three each, while spinner Aiden Markram was heavily economical.
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In reply, Proteas lost openers de Kock (12) and Reeza Hendricks (11) within the fourth over of the PP, with 26 runs on the board. A 23-run stand between Rassie van der Dussen (16) and Bavuma (46) happened before the former fell off an unlucky run out in the eighth. Along with Aiden Markram (19), Bavuma put on 48 more before pacer Wanindu Hasaranga cleaned up the latter in the 15th, at 96.
Lanka managed to keep the required rate escalating, while 16 runs later, in the 18th, Bavuma and Dwaine Pretorius (0) were sent back by Hasaranga as he completed his hat-trick. He became the third bowler to do so in the tournament, besides becoming the fourth Lankan to do it in T20Is. With 15 required off the final six, David Miller (23*) smashed a couple of sixes off pacer Lahiru Kumara to bring Proteas back into the game, while Kagiso Rabada (13*) struck a four off the final ball to seal it by four wickets.
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Lanka, too, utilised six bowlers, with Hasaranga claiming three and being the most economical from the side.
Brief scores: Lanka 142 (Nissanka- 72; Shamsi- 3/17, Pretorius- 3/17) lost to South Africa 146/6 (Bavuma- 46; Hasaranga- 3/20) by four wickets.
