Points to Ponder: South Africa v Sri Lanka

Zeecric Bureau

Coming in to Super 8s, Sri Lanka looked in top form after defeating India emphatically. On the other hand, South Africans, outwitted by Australians, entered the stage without two bonus points. The battle lines were drawn and it had to be a close match.

  • Lasith Malinga impressed one too many as he became the first bowler in international cricket to claim four wickets in four consecutive balls. Malinga also became only the fifth bowler to claim World Cup hat-trick.
  • Malinga almost snatched the victory from South African jaws as he fluttered the lower batting order of South Africa.
  • Had it not been the concentration of Charl Langeveldt and Robin Peterson in the end, South Africa might have lost this match.
  • Sri Lankan batting order collapsed to the jittery pace Charl Langeveldt as he thrashed Sri Lankan batsmen one by one. Charl Langeveldt was pick of South African bowlers with 5-39 while Makhaya Ntini was also impeccable to return with figures of 2-26.
  • Sri Lanka also missed to complete their quota of 50 overs and was all out for the score of 209 runs in 49.3 runs.
  • The credit goes to the gutsy partnership of Dilshan and Arnold which put on 97 runs for the sixth wicket, Sri Lankans would not have got a good target to defend as they were reduced to 98-5 in the 25th over.
  • All said and done, both the teams stumbled and both the team emerged out of the ruins but in the end the credit goes to the team which won the match. Sri Lanka will have to be on a lookout now to be amongst the numbers for the semi finals.

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