SL v SA World T20 Review: Proteas prove too strong for Sri Lanka in the dead rubber

South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by 8 wickets to end their as well their opposition’s World T20 campaign. Kotla witnessed yet another impressive turnout and the Proteas produced a clinical performance on a good batting pitch.  Faf du Plessis opted to chase and his bowlers did well to bundle out the islanders for 120 in 19.3 after they had got off to a solid start. In reply the South Africans overhauled the target in 17.4 overs. Aaron Phangiso was the player of the match for his spell of 2/26 that put the brakes on Sri Lankan scoring.

Dale Steyn, who was not part of the team for the last two matches, was brought back in place of Kagiso Rabada, who was rested after a long summer. South Africa made two other changes. Farhaan Behardien made his first appearance in the tournament in place of Rilee Rossouw, while Chris Morris, who had some back stiffness, was left out for Kyle Abbott.

Angelo Matthews, still suffering from the hamstring injury that he sustained during Sri Lanka’s defeat to England, was left out of the XI. Dinesh Chandimal took over the leadership in Mathews’ absence. Dushmantha Chameera was the other casualty from the England match. Shehan Jayasuriya replaced him, with Suranga Lakmal also included in the team.

Sri Lanka got off to a fine start thanks and their openers looked in good touch before Phangiso turned the innings in his team’s favour. Chandimal (21) was cleaned by Phangiso who found himself on a hat-trick by removing Lahiru Thirimanne in the same manner with the score on 45 at the end of 5 overs. Milinda Siriwardana was batting well on 15 however was run out in the 10th over.

Behardien (2/15) bowled a brilliant 3-over spell that first produced the wicket of Jayasuriya (1) and later the one of Tillakaratne Dilshan (36) who was well set. Dasun Shanaka struck an unbeaten 20 but wickets kept tumbling at the other end and Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out in 19.3 overs. Abbot finished with figures of 2/14 while Steyn took 1/33. Imrah Tahir again bowled well for his 1/18 in 4 over.

Quinton de Kock (9) smashed 2 fours before he was run out in the second over. Hashim Amla hit one to Dilshan at backward point and the mix-up between both batsmen gave the veteran enough time to uproot the stumps down at the bowler’s end with his direct hit. Skipper Faf batted solidly for his 31 off 36 that included 3 fours while AB de Villiers hit 2 massive sixes in his unbeaten 20 off 12. Amla though, was sublime in his unbeaten 56 off 52 that featured 5 fours and one 6. Lakmal was Sri Lanka’s only wicket-taker in his spell of 1/28.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka – 120/10 19.3 overs (T Dilshan 36, Behardien 2/15, Phangiso 2/26)

South Africa – 122/2 in 17.4 overs (H Amla 56; S Lakmal 1/28)

Player of the Match: Aaron Phangiso (South Africa)

How did Twitter react to the game? – Twitter Reactions: South Africa defeat Sri Lanka in a one sided encounter