Even as Sri Lanka showed tremendous fight to take the game till the 16th over, the total of 77 proved to be too low as South Africa got over the finish line with 6 wickets to spare. The Proteas did struggle to get to the total, but Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller stayed until the end to see their side home.
Anrich Nortje spearheaded South Africa's red-hot bowling performance as they consigned Sri Lanka to their lowest T20I score of 77 at the Nassau County International Stadium in New York. Nortje took figures of 4-0-7-4, while Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj bagged a couple. Ottneil Baartman struck with his first ball of T20 World Cup, taking figures of 4-1-9-4.
South African pacer Ottneil Baartman struck with the first ball of his World Cup, dismissing Pathum Nissanka. Markram introduced Baartman after Marco Jansen bowled a couple and Rabada sent down one.
South Africa and Sri Lanka, from Group C, aim to make a winning start o T20 World Cup 2024 as they lock horns on Tuesday at the Nassau International County Stadium in New York. Sri Lankan captain and leggie Wanindu Hasaranga has won the toss and has elected to bat first against Aiden Markram led-Proteas.
Hasaranga cited the pitch looking good behind his decision to bat first and revealed that they are going with 7 batters, 4 bowlers, and a couple of all-rounders. By contrast, Aiden Markram said he would've bowled first and revealed his combination - 4 fast bowlers and 1 spinner in Keshav Maharaj.
The Proteas enjoy a strong record against Sri Lanka when it comes to T20 World Cups, winning 3 out of 4 matches. However, they have never reached the final, while the Island nation bagged the trophy in 2014 by defeating Sri lanka in the final.
South Africa and Sri Lanka playing XI:
South Africa playing XI: Quinton de Kock(w), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram(c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Ottneil Baartman.
Sri Lanka playing XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga(c), Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara.
