Opener Kusal Perera blazed his way to a sparkling half-century as Sri Lanka defeated South Africa by five runs to begin their ICC World Twenty20 campaign in style at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Saturday. Sri Lanka held their nerve as the game went down to the wire, with pace bowler Lasith Malinga operating from one end to restrict the South Africans to 160-8 after the 2012 runners-up posted 165-5 on the back of Perera’s 61.
South Africa were cruising towards victory, needing 19 runs from the last two overs with five wickets in hand, before Nuwan Kulasekara and Malinga’s combined efforts restricted the Proteas to just 14.
Earlier, Sri Lanka elected to bat first and opener Kusal Perera blazed with the willow to give them a good start.
Perera took Dale Steyn for a ride in the first over, hitting him for two fours before whacking a six over mid-wicket. The pace bowler came back by rattling the stumps of Tillakaratne Dilshan for a golden duck.
Steyn came into the side after recovering from a hamstring injury, though a similar injury prevented skipper Faf du Plessis from participating.
Maybe Steyn was not hundred percent in the first over against Perera,’ said South Africa’s stand-in captain AB de Villiers after the match.
Perera continued to attack and whacked a six square of the wicket of Morne Morkel, picking up the ball early in a manner reminiscent of explosive Sri Lankan icon Sanath Jayasuriya.
Perara’s emphatic big hitting continued after Mahela Jayawardene (12) departed, as Sri Lanka completed the batting power play at 51-2.
Perera and Kumar Sangakkara (14) added 41 runs for the third wicket before leg spinner Imran Tahir broke the partnership by removing the latter.
Perera’s blazing innings eventually ended when a Tahir googly got his top-edge as he tried to hit it for six.
Perera made 61 from 40 balls before leaving, and then skipper Angelo Mathews contributed with a valuable 32-ball 43 runs to take his team to a respectable total.
Tahir picked up 3-24 and, in the process, stalled the Sri Lankans’ run-scoring spree.
South Africa were well on course as JP Duminy and opener Hashim Amla put on 50 runs for the second wicket after coming together at 1-32, when Malinga removed opener Quinton de Kock for a quick fire 18-ball 25 runs.
Sachithra Senanayake crashed the South African party by removing Duminy, who was looking dangerous before he gave a catch at long-on that was gladly accepted by Dilshan.
Continued on P11 Col. 7
-With New Age input
