Twenty20 World Cup: Humiliating defeat for Sri Lanka, South Africa begins World Cup campaign with emphatic win

NEW YORK: Anrich Norje's outstanding bowling performance (4/7) and some good batting display by South Africa led to victory over Sri Lanka in the fourth match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 at the Nassau International Cricket Stadium on Monday. The Proteas surpassed Sri Lanka's target of 78 runs with six wickets and 3.4 overs to spare.

Score: Sri Lanka 77-10 (19.1 overs), South Africa 80-4 (16.2)

While chasing a mere total of 78 runs, the South African side didn't have a good start as they lost the wicket of opener Reez Hendricks in the second over of the innings. The right-hand batter was dismissed after scoring 4 runs off 2 balls on the bowling of Nuwan Thushara. Proteas skipper Aiden Markram was sent back to the pavilion after scoring just 12 runs in 14 balls. He was dismissed at a score of 23 by Dasun Shanaka in the fifth over of the innings. South Africa completed fifty in 10.3 overs. In the same over, the South African side lost the wicket of De Kock. He was dismissed after scoring 20 runs in 27 balls. In the 13th over, the Proteas lost the fourth wicket. Tristan Stubbs was dismissed after scoring 13 runs in 28 balls. The South African side chased down the total in 16.2 overs with six wickets in hand.

The pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka was Hasaranga who took two wickets in his spell of 3.2 overs where he conceded 22 runs. One wicket each was taken by Thushara and Shanaka in their respective spells.

Earlier, the Sri Lankan batters had a horrible day as they were bundled out for just 77 runs. Only Kushal Mendis 19(30), Kamindu Mendis 11(15) and Angelo Mathews 16(16) managed to score double figures. Three batters were out for zero. Apart from Anrich Norje's four-wicket performance, Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj took two wickets each and Otneil Baartman took one wicket.