Proteas outplay Sri Lanka
South Africa outplayed Sri Lanka by nine wickets in their quarter-final clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia.
Eliot Mahlase
South Africa’s Proteas booked their semi-final berth in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup on Wednesday by thumping Sri Lanka by nine wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia on Wednesday.
Spinners JP Duminy and Imran Tahir took seven wickets between them as they ripped the middle order of the Sri Lankan side apart. Man of the match Tahir took 4/26 in 8.2 overs to restrict the Lankans to 133 all out.
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first, with Kusal Perera and Tillakaratne Dilshan opening the innings.
The decision of the Proteas to include Kyle Abbott in their bowling attack instead of Vernon Philander paid off right away. He got rid of Perera for two runs in the second over of the day.
Dale Steyn got the big wicket of Dilshan shortly afterwards.
From there on, The Sri Lankans were on the backfoot with AB De Villiers bringing in the two spinners to stop them from gaining any momentum. The two not only contained the Sri Lankans’ dangerous middle order but also removed them, with Duminy boasting a hat-trick.
Sangakarra showed some intent but after he was caught in the deep for 45, Sri Lanka were all but out as they only managed to pile up 133 runs.
Despite losing Hashim Amla early, the Proteas reached the target with ease as Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis put up a 94 run partnership to see the Proteas over the line with 32 overs to go.
The win was South Africa’s first-ever victory in the knock-out round of the World Cup.
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