South Africa thrash Sri Lanka in T20 World Cup opener
June 3, 2024 11:11 pm
In a disappointing start to their T20 World Cup campaign, Sri Lanka was defeated by South Africa by 06 wickets in their opening match, registering their lowest international T20 score.
The match, held at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, saw South Africa dominate from the start, leaving Sri Lanka struggling to find form.
Having won the toss, Sri Lanka’s skipper Wanindu Hasaranga opted to bat first, where they finished their batting innings on 77 – the lions’ lowest total in all T20 internationals.
The 2014-champions suffered a top and middle order collapse as eight of their players were dismissed for single-digit scores, including captain Hasaranga, who was out for a duck.
Kusal Mendis scored 19, while Kamindu Mendis hit 11 and Mathews scored 16 for Sri Lanka’s scoreboard.
For South Africa, it was a near-perfect bowling performance, as Nortje picked 4-7, while Rabada and Maharaj got two wickets each and Baartman also picked one on his T20 World Cup debut.
South Africa’s Quinton de Kock smashed 20 while Heinrich Klaasen hit 19.
Captain Wanindu Hasaranga picked up 02 wickets, while Nuwan Thushara and Dasun Shanaka took 01 wicket each, for Sri Lankan side.
