Welcome to Sportstar's Highlights of the T20 World Cup 2021 Super 12 match between South Africa and Sri Lanka from the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah.
MATCH RECAP:
David Miller smashed two sixes in the last over off Lahiru Kumara to steer South Africa to a four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in a Super 12 match of the T20 World Cup 2021 in Sharjah. With 15 needed off the last over, Miller struck consecutive sixes off the second and third ball and took a single off the fourth to draw level. Kagiso Rabada then edged one past the keeper for four to seal the victory with one ball to spare.
Chasing 143 on a Sharjah wicket that kept low and slow, SA was hobbling at 49/3 in eight overs. Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram dug in for a 47-run partnership in six overs before the latter perished off Hasaranga in the 15th over. Bavuma and Dwaine Pretorius fell to Hasaranga off consecutive deliveries in the 18th over as the leg-spinner completed a hat-trick to leave South Africa reeling at 118/6. With 25 runs needed off 12 balls, Rabada's six in the 19th and Miller's heroics in the final over eventually sealed a thrilling win for the Proteas.
Sri Lanka was off to a sluggish start after being put in to bat. Tabraiz Shamsi's triple strikes within a span of five overs reduced Sri Lanka to 92/5 in 14 overs. Pretorius stifled the Lankans' charge towards the end of the innings with three wickets in two overs. Opener Pathum Nissanka played a valiant knock of 72 off 58 balls as wickets kept falling around him and led his side to a competitive 142.
FULL REPORT HERE: Miller's cameo outshines Hasaranga's hat-trick as South Africa posts win
South Africa beats Sri Lanka by four wickets
Player of the match: Tabraiz Shamsi 3/17 (4 overs)
SA 146/6 in 19.5 overs: Kumara to defend 15 in the last over. Heaved on the on-side for just one. He looked to clear the rope but got no timing on it. 14 off 5 balls. SIX! Length ball and creamed over mid-wicket. Cracking sound off the bat and a cracking shot. 8 to win off 4 balls. SIX! In the slot again and the same treatment for Kumara. Strays on the legs this time. 2 to win off three balls. Gets the glove on the pull and one run. Scores level. Two balls remaining. FOUR! SA wins. Rabada swings to edge past the keeper to the boundary at third.
SA 128/6 in 19 overs: Chameera runs in. In the blockhole and Miller drives straight for just one. Rabada returns strike with a single to long-off. Thumped down the ground by Miller and long-off does well to collect it and keep it to a single. SIX! Rabada puts it away over long-off. Slower one slightly short of yorker length. Dot ball! Slower one wider on off and he is beaten. Single to long-off and he keeps strike.
SL 118/6 in 18 overs: Hasaranga to bowl out. OUT! Absolute stunner in the deep and Bavuma goes. Bavuma c Nissanka b Hasaranga 46(46b 1x4 1x6).OUT! Pretorius goes next ball and Hasaranga does it again for the Islanders. That's a hat-trick for Hasaranga ; only the third in all T20 World Cups so far and the second of the 2021 edition. Two wickets in two balls. Dwaine Pretorius c Rajapaksa b Hasaranga 0(1b 0x4 0x6). Rabada joins Miller and Hasaranga has turned this on its head. Huge LBW appeal, turned down and they go for DRS. Will this be Hasaranga's hat-trick? Huge moment coming up. Pitches outside leg and it is not out! One leg-bye. Another tricky couple as Miller scampers back to the striker's end. Another brace next bal. Just a single off the pads to end Hasaranga's spell.
SA needs 31 runs to win from 18 balls.
SL 112/4 in 17 overs: Chameera into his third over. SIX! Captain Bavuma smokes it over square leg. Angles into his pads and full, and he picks it up effortlessly all the way. Flicked off the pads to midwicket for a couple. Nudged off the backfoot for a single and Bavuma will keep strike.
SA 102/4 in 16 overs: Theekshana with spin from the other end too. Six singles from the over and SL will take that any day of the week. The required run rate has crept over 10 and SA is in serious trouble now.
SA 96/4 in 15 overs: Hasaranga into his third over. A tight couple and a direct-hit would have meant the end of Markram. FOUR! Markram gets down on one knee and slogs it over midwicket to the boudary. OUT! Bowled him! Markram looked to make room and chip it over on the off-side, exposing the wickets in the process. Played down the wrong line to see the ball crash into the stumps. Aiden Markram b Hasaranga 19(20b 2x4 0x6). Miller joins Bavuma.
SA 88/3 in 14 overs: Kumara with the ball. The match is as evenly poised as it can be as the win predictor shows a 50-50 chance of winning for both teams. So, buckle up for a humdinger here at Sharjah. Short and slow and it knocks Bavuma on the arm. That 145 kmph bullet would have stung but the marshall continues nonchalantly. Full and close to the stumps and beats Markram. Single at long-off to end the over and just four from it. With Hasaranga to bowl two more, SA will look to get a move on here as the asking rate inches closer to 10 an over.
SA 84/3 in 13 overs: Theekshana continues. FOUR! Bavuma finally finds the gap and powers this short one to the mid-wicket boundary. That will ease some pressure! Three more singles off the back-foot and a wide to end the over.
SA 74/3 in 12 overs: Skipper Shanaka to roll his arm over. Driven though extra cover for a couple. Two more for Bavuma with an on-drive at mid-wicket. Flicked to long-on for a single. Another single for Markram with a drive at deep point. A single to end the over. Seven from it. With not much pace to work with, the batters find it hard to get it away and prefer to nudge it around for ones and the occasional two.
SA 67/3 in 11 overs: Theekshana into his second over. Single for Bavuma at third. A dot and four singles follow. Theekshana bowls into the pitch and Markram, Bavuma strike well but find the fielder in the deep on each occasion. Five from the over.
SA 62/3 in 10 overs: Karunaratne into his third over. Bottom edge and almost played on; just a single. Two for Bavuma with a push to cover. The skipper collects a couple more off the backfoot with a cut to backward point. Flicked off the pads for one. FOUR! Markram drives through covers a delivery in the channel area and has good pace to work with.
SA 52/3 in 9 overs: Hasarange rushes through his over, giving away just three runs. New batter Markram takes one at long-on to get off the mark and that's fifty up for SA.
SA 49/3 in 8 overs: Karunaratne continues. Two singles off the first two ball. Bavuma looks to scoop it behind and it it too full for the shot. Gets it on his pads but the LBW appeal is turned down. Karunaratne looks convinced and they go up. The ball was hitting the stumps marginally so umpire's call has the last word - Not out. Two singles and a wide. OUT! Rassie gone. The batters were pushing their luck a little too much with the quick single and it took a direct hit from skipper Shanaka to turn it around. Rassie van der Dussen run out (Shanaka) 16(11b 0x4 0x6).
SA 44/2 in 7 overs: Hasaranga into the attack. He keeps the batters quiet with just four singles from the over. Varies his length and pace and rolls over two googlies to keep the batters on their toes.
SA 40/2 in 6 overs: First bowling change sees Karunaratne into the attack. Swing and a miss from Bavuma. Single to mid-on. Driven to cover by Rassie and they scamper for one. Short and Bavuma gets a bottom edge on it. He does well to kick the ball away before it lands back onto the stumps. Quick single again. FOUR! SA will collect five from that ball as a tight run prompts a wide throw that runs away to the boundary.
SA 32/2 in 5 overs: Rassie works it off his pads to the square leg boundary as Hasaranga flicks it back in time to keep it to two. Two more off a needless overthrow next ball. Fends it back to Kumara who throws it back at him to knock the stumps in search of a run out. Kumara appeals for an obstructing the field dismissal but turned down by the third umpire.
SA 26/2 in 4 overs: Chameera continues. FOUR! Inside off Hendricks' blade and it runs away fine behind the keeper. OUT! Slightly short and on the stumps, Hendricks looked to play it on the on-side but missed as the ball skid and rushed onto him. Reeza Hendricks lbw b Chameera 11(12b 1x4 0x6). Rassie van der Dussen comes in. Single to get off strike first ball. OUT! de Kock is gone. Slower one and short and de Kock mistimes the pull. It shoots up and Chameera pockets it off his own bowling. Skipper Bavuma comes in and plays out two dots. Quinton de Kock c & b Chameera 12(10b 2x4 0x6).
SA 21/0 in 3 overs: Kumara replaces Chameera. FOUR! Perfectly timed by de Kock. Good length and just pushes it between mid-on and mid-wicket. The batters were finding it hard to get the back of length balls away. Kumara errs in length once and pays the price.
SA 14/0 in 2 overs: Theekshana from the other end. FOUR! Easy pickings for de Kock. On the pads and whipped behind back to fine leg for a boundary on the bounce. Good over for SA with 10 coming from it. de Kock and Hendricks deal in ones and twos and get them comfortably.
SA 4/0 in 1 over: Chameera to de Kock first ball. Flicked off the pads for a single. Hendricks on strike. Chameera dragging his length back. Hendricks flicks one to deep midwicket to get off strike with a single. No-ball and Free Hit! Jams it into de Kock's legs who looks to whip it away but gets a leg-bye. Just four from the first over.
THE CHASE BEGINS. SOUTH AFRICA NEEDS 143 TO WIN
LIVE COMMENTARY
SL 142 in 20 overs: Theekshana and Chameera at the crease with Nortje with the ball for the last over. FOUR! Fortuitous boundary for Theekshana but you take it from where you get it. Pitched in short and towards the body; Theekshana gets an inside edge trying to fend it off and it runs away wide of the keeper. OUT! Castled! Chameera exposes the stumps to free his arms on the on-side and misses; Nortje hits. As simple as that! Dushmantha Chameera b Nortje 3(4b 0x4 0x6) . Kumara the last man in for the last ball. OUT! Swing and a miss and the batters run for bye but Nortje knocks the stumps over at the non-striker's end to dismiss Kumara. Lahiru Kumara run out (de Kock/Nortje) 0(1b 0X4 0X6).
SL 134/8 in 19 overs: Pretorius continues. A couple for Karunaratne to long-off. OUT! Pace off and Karunaratne hands it to long-on trying to go big. Karunaratne c van de Dussen b Pretorius 5(5b 0x4 0x6). OUT! Wickets continue to tumble and Pretorius gets one with the slower one again. It's the big wicket of Nissanka. Slow and short and he looks to plane it over deep midwicket but finds the man in the deep. Pathum Nissanka c Nortje b Pretorius 72(58b 6x4 3x6).
SL 129/6 in 18 overs: Rabada with the ball. SIX! In the slot and Nissanka is too well-settled to let that go. Smokes it over mid-wicket all the way. FOUR! Nissanka is on another stratosphere altogether! Drags a short length on off to the square leg fence. FOUR! Good length outside off and spanked through covers to the boundary.
SL 112/6 in 17 overs: FOUR! Pretorius bowls almost outside the pitch and Shanaka shuffles wide to the off and laps it to the square leg boundary. FOUR! Heaved outside off the gets the bottom edge that sails past de Kock to the boundary. OUT! Wide outside off again and Shanaka looked to clear the off-side boundary. Doesn't get enough meat on it and Rabada takes it well at deep extra cover. Dasun Shanaka c Rabada b Pretorius 11(12b 2x4 0x6).
SL 101/5 in 16 overs: Nortje comes back. FOUR! Cracking short from Nissanka to end the over with a boundary to make it seven from the over. Nortje went slightly full, more like half-volley, and Nissanka picked it up over mid-wicket.
SL 94/5 in 15 overs: Pretorius puts some pace back onto the ball. Skipper Shanaka joins Nissanka at the crease. Just two from the over and Nissanka brings up his fifty off 46 balls with a single off the last ball. That's more than half the team's runs scored by the opener so far!
SL 92/5 in 14 overs: Shamsi continues. Hasaranga dances down the pitch like it is the only way he knows how to bat and picks it up over cover for just a single. OUT! Another one for Shamsi. Hasaranga was itching to find the boundary from the get go but finds the man instead. Steps out and launches it long-on and a brilliant take from Markram diving forward. Hasaranga c Markram b Shamsi 4(5b 0x4 0x6).
SL 89/4 in 13 overs: SIX! Maharaj drops it short and Nissanka sends it back over long-on. Maharaj recovers to concede just four singles but still 10 come from it.
SL 79/4 in 12 overs: FOUR! Pitched up on the off and Nissanka picks it up over mid-wicket. OUT! Avishka steps down the pitch and looks to pierce it through on the on-side but hands it straight to the bowler. Another catch for Shamsi off his own bowling. Hasaranga steps out first ball and smacks it over midon for one. Avishka Fernando c & b Shamsi 3(5b 0x4 0x6).
SL 72/3 in 11 overs: Maharaj continues. Loud LBW appeal and Bavuma goes up again. Nissanka survives again as the ball would have just kissed the leg stump and that is rule as umpire's call. Maharaj pitched it on leg and it spun in sharply to thud into Nissanka's extended front foot. Some erratic running between the wicket by SL. Two mix-ups and and SA misses the stumps on both occasions.
SL 67/3 in 10 overs: Shamsi continues. OUT! Leading edge from Rajapaksa and Shami leaps up to complete an athletic caught and bowled. Bhanuka Rajapaksa c & b Shamsi 0(3b 0x4 0x6). Avishka the new man in. Wide ball down leg but de Kock appeals for a stumping and umpires go up for the review. Sharp work from de Kock. Nissanka had a lucky spike or two of his boot on the other side of the line and he survives.
SL 61/2 in 9 overs: SIX! Asalanka steps down the pitch and takes Maharaj on the full to hammer it over deep midwicket. Rabada jumps high but it flies just over his reach. SIX! Nissanka launches it this time over deep midwicket. Bowled in the slot and Nissanka pounces on it with a slog sweep. OUT! Asalanka is found short of his crease. Pushes it mid-on and slips at the crease on starting the second run. Rajapakse joins Nissanka. 15 from it but the huge wicket of Asalanka and SA will take that! Charith Asalanka run out (Rabada/de Kock) 21(14b 2x4 1x6).
SL 46/1 in 8 overs: Shamsi with his wrist spin from the other end. Just two from it, including a leg-bye. Nissanka tumbles trying to sweep on the last ball and Shamsi appeals, but turned down.
SL 44/1 in 7 overs: Maharaj to bowl the first over after Powerplay. Five singles from it.
SL 39/1 in 6 overs: Nortje continues. Asalanka on the assault! FOUR! Plays across the line and over mid-wicket to the boundary. FOUR! Much more elegant and goes uppish on a straightish drive to find the long-off boundary.
SL 26/1 in 5 overs: Rabada returns. Two balls on the money and FOUR! Nissanka lifts it over long-on for a maximum as Rabada goes full on off.
SL 20/1 in 4 overs: Nortje replaces Rabada. Full on off stump and driven by Nissanka for a single. On leg stump and Perera misses out on this dolly served to him. Gets just one with a mistimed heave behind. OUT! Perera is knocked over. Nortje goes arrow straight and uproots the middle stump. Asalanka pushes to mid-on for a dot. Kusal Perera b Nortje 7(10b 1x4 0x6).
SL 17/0 in 3 overs: Markram continues. Nissanka sweeps for a single. Perera sweeps and misses and loud LBW appeal and turned down by Joel Wilson. Markram convinces skipper Bavuma to go up. Impact is outside and SA loses the review. Nudged off the backfoot for a single to long-on for just one. Nissanka skips down the pitch and flicks it to long-on for one more. Sharp over and just three from it.
SL 14/0 in 2 overs: Rabada with the new ball for the second over. Into the deck first ball to Nissanka. FOUR! Very lucky there as he almost chopped it on to his stumps. Width from Rabada and Nissanka looked to slash it past cover. Opens the face this time to run it down to third for a single and Rabada returns to the stump line. FOUR! Strays on the pads and Perera flicks it fine to the boundary.
SL 5/0 in 1 over: Markram to Nissanka first ball. Punched off the back-foot for a single to long-on. Perera is off the mark with a push to square leg, wants a second but sent back. Five singles from the over.
Both teams line-up for the national anthems at Sharjah. Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka are in the middle to open the batting. Markram with the new ball. Players take the knee, including de Kock.
South Africa Playing XI: Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Reeza Hendricks, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi
Sri Lanka Playing XI : Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera (wk), Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana
Quinton de Kock comes back into the team as Heinrich Klaasen makes way for him. Sri Lanka is unchanged from the loss against Australia.
As de Kock returns to the Playing XI after skipping the last game against the West Indies over CSA's directive on taking the knee, it may be safe to assume that the issue has now been put to bed. Here is what the wicket-keeper batter had to say about his decision.
"I would like to start by saying sorry to my teammates, and the fans back home. I never ever wanted to make this a Quinton issue. I understand the importance of standing against racism, and I also understand the responsibility of us as players to set an example. If me taking a knee helps to educate others, and makes the lives of others better, I am more than happy to do so."
Read the full statement here
PITCH REPORT: The wicket is the one on which West Indies successfully defended 142 yesterday against Bangladesh. It will keep low and slow and hitting back of length will reap dividends. The square boundaries run 61m and 69m with the straight boundary at 73m. This is South Africa's first international match in Sharjah, so the deck might take a little getting used to for the Proteas.
Meanwhile, Aiden Markram has risen in the T20I batters' rankings.
UPDATE : Quinton de Kock is at the ground and is likely to play today.
South Africa's five-match winning streak against Sri Lanka includes a 3-0 clean sweep in September. Quinton de Kock was the highest-scorer in the series with 153 runs from three matches, while left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin picked up the most wickets (5) and went at a stellar 4.75 runs per over.
Head-to-head in T20Is
T20 WCs: South Africa also has the wood over the Islanders in T20 World Cups with two wins from the three games the sides have played against each other in the tournament.
MATCH PREVIEW:
South Africa boasts of aggressive batters in Reeza Hendricks, Rassle van der Dussen, Aiden Markram and the ever-reliable David Miller, who can take any opposition attack apart on their day and Sri Lanka's would be no exception.
But all the South African batters would need to be wary of the wily Sri Lankan spin duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, who have bamboozled the opposition batters.
The South African bowling clicked in their game against West Indies with right-arm medium pacer Dwaine Pretorius claiming three wickets. It also has two of the best death bowlers in Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, whose role would be crucial on Saturday afternoon.
An important role would be played for the Proteas by its spinners - Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi -, who would look to run through the talented but inconsistent Sri Lankan batting order.
South Africa is unlikely to tinker with their winning combination.
Sri Lanka will have to quickly put the seven-wicket hammering by Australia behind and need to start afresh.
For the Islanders, Charith Asalanka's form has been a positive. Wicket-keeper Kusal Perera, who got a start against Australia, would need to make it big against South Africa.
However, the constant failure of opener Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando, would be a cause of concern for the team management. The role of Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who showed glimpses of his talent against Australia and flamboyant Wanindu Hasaranga, will also be crucial if Sri Lanka has to post or chase a big total.
The Sri Lankan pace trio of Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara looked off-coloured against Australia and it will have to bowl in the right areas to contain the South African batting.
While dew wouldn't have any impact on the game, the outcome would be crucial for both the outfits as they aims to qualify for the semifinals. -PTI
Where to watch T20 World Cup 2021 - South Africa vs Sri Lanka Super 12 Live?
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