South Africa skipper AB de Villiers hit 30 off 13 balls
Leading from the front skipper AB de Villiers spanked 30 off 13 balls as South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by 32 runs in the rain-shortened Group C match at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota on Saturday.
In the game that was reduced to seven overs per-side, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl first. De Villiers’ blitz and an array of contributions from Hashim Amla (16) and Faf du Plessis (13) helped Proteas to post a challenging total of 78-4.
The target remained beyond Sri Lanka’s approach as they could manage to reach 46-5 in their seven overs.
With the victory, South Africa finished as the toppers of Group C. Both sides have already qualified for Super Eights round after defeating Zimbabwe in their opening matches.
South African seamers though their immaculate line and dent Lankan chase with the early inroads. Their fielding was exceptional as well.
Struggling after the early setbacks, Sri Lanka failed to gain momentum and departed to pavilion one after anther. Kumar Sangakkara and Dilshan Munaweera scored 13 runs apiece.
Dale Steyn was the most successful bowler for South Africa with the impressive figures of 2-10.
Earlier, asked to bat, South Africa lost opener Richard Levi in the first over, before Amla made swift progress and cracked three quick boundaries.
Amla’s departure in the 3rd over brought up de Villiers, who switched-on a show of blistering batting and hit four boundaries and a two sixes.
De Villiers knock came to an end when he mistimed Laisth Malinga full length delivery and handed a catch to Jeevan Mendis at mid-off. Plessis perished to Thissara Perera in the next over.
JP Duminy plundered 12 runs in the final over.
