World T20: South Africa upstage hosts in 7-over match

De Villiers stars in 32-run win for the Proteas.

HAMBANTOTA:

South Africa beat hosts Sri Lanka by a convincing 32-run margin in a rain-shortened seven-over-a-side group C match yesterday.

South Africa were good with both bat and ball as their pacemen never allowed the Sri Lankan batsmen to chase a daunting 79-run target. Skipper AB de Villiers earlier smashed two sixes and a boundary during his 13-ball 30, while Hashim Amla (16) and Faf du Plessis (13) were the other main contributors in a total of 78 for four after South Africa were sent in to bat.

Sri Lanka were without their ace spinner Ajantha Mendis, who took six for eight in their win over Zimbabwe, after suffering from a side strain. Heavy rain delayed the start by two and a half hours as a sell-out 35,000 crowd waited anxiously for action and although they got it late the fireworks in a shorter game gave them some consolation.

Sri Lanka were never in the hunt, losing wickets in quick successions and were restricted to 46 for five. Dale Steyn was South Africa's best bowler with two for 10. Dilshan Munaweera and Kumar Sangakkara made 13 each.

South Africa finished top of the group, while Sri Lanka qualified for the Super Eight rounds. Both had beaten Zimbabwe in their opening matches. Sri Lanka will be in group one of Super Eights, while South Africa will be in group two, regarded as the group of death with India, Australia and Pakistan likely to be the other teams.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2012.