New Delhi: South Africa redeemed some pride from yet another failed shot an an international tournament title, carving out an eight wicket win over Sri Lanka in their final Group 1 Super 1- league game of the ICC World Twenty20 at the Kotla here on Monday.
With the calm hand of Hashim Amla (56 not out, 52 b) at the wheel, the Proteas, for many one of the pre-tournament favourites chased down Sri Lanka’s meagre 120 eight wickets in hand, riding on the bearded stylist’s half-century to get across the line in 17.4 overs.
Playing perfect counterpoint to Amla’s anchor was AB de Villiers who after a string of disappointments was unbeaten on a brisk 20 (12b), who fittingly knocked off the winning runs with his second six. In between opener Quinton de Kock (9) and skipper Faf du Plessis (30, 36b) played their part in keeping the chase on the rails to leave the South Africans wondering what it would need from them to break the hoodoo of a world title despite their fine performances in other forms of competition.
Earlier, a dispirited performance by the 2014 champions marked their last outing with the bat. Asked to take first strike, Sri Lanka managed a measly 120 in 19.3 overs. Tillakaratne Dilshan was the only batsman to get a total of consequence, scoring a steady 36 off 40 deliveries with four boundaries and a six. Just two other batsmen reached the 20s as the South Africans kept things tidy with the ball and in the field.
It had all looked very different at the start. Openers Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal got off to a flyer, pounding the pace of Dale Steyn to all parts of the ground. In under five overs the Sri Lankans had raced to 45 runs before SA captain du Plessis opted to take the slow route.
