While the Sri Lanka batsman compiled a decent score, it was the bowlers who successfully defended it. PHOTO: AFP
Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara held their nerve in the death overs with miserly fast-bowling as Sri Lanka beat South Africa by five runs in their World Twenty20 opener on Saturday.
South Africa had the upper hand, chasing 166 for victory in their Group One Super-10 match and needed 19 runs off the last two overs with five wickets in hand.
But Kulasekara gave away just four runs and picked up the wicket of Farhaan Behardien to leave South Africa needing 15 runs off Malinga’s final over.
Dale Steyn and the dangerous David Miller were run out off the first two deliveries and although Imran Tahir (eight not out) managed a last-ball six, the chase had already gone out of South Africa’s reach.
AB de Villiers, captaining the side in the absence of the injured Faf du Plessis, was not impressed by his team’s finish.
“If we are going to win this tournament we’ve got to chase down totals like this,” said De Villiers. “We got close, we were on track but unfortunately it was a disappointing finish.”
Earlier, opener Kusal Perera’s (61 off 40) assault gave Sri Lanka the tempo at the start of their innings and Angelo Mathews (43) provided the late fireworks to lift them to 165 for seven.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2014.
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