ICC World T20 2021 Super 12 Group 1: South Africa knock out Sri Lanka in a last over thriller

 Thanks to brilliance by David Miller, South Africa defeated Sri Lanka in a low-scoring thriller played at Sharjah Cricket Ground, Sharjah on Saturday.

South African captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and decided to field first. It was a cautious start by Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka. Norjte struck for South Africa getting the wicket of Perera trying to hit a big shot. Asalanaka played with intent putting pressure on opposition bowlers. At the end of the first six overs, Sri Lanka scored 38 for 1.

After the field restrictions, Asalanaka and Nissanka kept the momentum going for Sri Lanka. A brilliant throw and gather by Quinton de Kock resulted in a run-out of Asalanaka. Asalanaka and Nissanka added 41 runs for the 2^nd wicket. In the next over, Shamsi got the wicket of Bhanuka Rajapaksa caught and bowled to leave Sri Lanka struggling. Nissanka played according to the situation keeping the strike rotating and hitting occasional boundaries.

Shamsi struck again to dismiss Avishka Fernando caught and bowled leaving Sri Lanka in big trouble. Hasaranga could not contribute many runs trying to provide a simple catch to Markram at long-on. Dasun Shanaka struggled to time the ball while Nissanka showed intent reaching his fifty off 46 balls.

Nissanka took on Kagiso Rabada smashing him for 17 runs in the 18^th over. Pretorius got wickets of Chamika Karunaratne and well-set Nissanka. Thanks to his brilliance, Sri Lanka posted 142 all out.

In reply to 143 runs, Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock gave a steady start to South Africa putting pressure on Lankan opening bowlers. Chameera got wickets of Hendricks via review for LBW and then took a return catch to dismiss Quinton de Kock to leave South Africa struggling.

Temba Bavuma and Rassie Van Der Dussen struggled against the Sri Lankan bowlers. At the end of the first six overs, South Africa made 40 for 2.

After the field restrictions, a superb direct throw by Shanaka ended in the wicket of Dussen to leave South Africa in trouble. Bavuma tried to rotate strike while Markrarm struggled against the Lankan bowlers. Hasaranga got the breakthrough dismissing Markram. Markram and Bavuma added 47 runs for the 4^th wicket.

Hasaranga did the damage by getting wickets of Bavuma with a superb catch by Nissanka at the boundary and then Pretorius caught by Rajapaksa at long-on. With the wickets of the last ball and then the first two deliveries of the next over, he grabbed a hattrick putting Sri Lanka on course for a win.

Kagiso Rabada smashed a six off Chameera in the 19^th over to make the match interesting. With 15 runs required off the last over, Miller cracked Kumara for two sixes helping the situation in favor of South Africa. Rabada ended the match with a boundary to help South Africa register a four-wicket win. Rabada and Miller put on unbeaten 34 runs for the 6^th 7^th wicket.

South Africa 146 for 6 in 19.5 overs ( Bavuma 46, Miller 23*, Hasaranga 3/20) beat Sri Lanka 142 in 20 overs ( Nissanka 72, Shamsi 3/17, Pretorius 3/17) by 4 wickets.

For his 3 for 17 including 2 caught and bowled chances, Shamsi was awarded the man of the match award. South Africa registered their 2^nd win of the Super 12 stage knocking out Sri Lanka.

 

Miller's brilliance gives South Africa a thrilling 4 wicket win over Sri Lanka