South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma plays a shot as Sri Lanka’s wicketkeeper Kusal Perera watches during the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup cricket match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah on Saturday. Picture: INDRANIL MUKHERJEE, AFP
Sharjah – The Proteas completed a memorable victory over Sri Lanka here at the ICC T20 World Cup with just one ball remaining.
The Proteas required 15 runs off the final six balls and David Miller delivered with two killer sixes over the mid-wicket fence to take his team to the brink.
However, it was left to Kagiso Rabada to hit the winning runs with a flaying cut shot that flew off the edge of his bat to the boundary. It was actually Rabada that gave South Africa the win with a Brian Lara-esque six over long-off in the penultimate over.
"I had a lot of confidence in the fact that David was there. He hasn't done that for us in a while, so that finish was always on the cards." - Captain Temba Bavuma after David Miller's last-over heroics against Sri Lanka 💬 #SAvSL #T20WorldCup #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/shs86DhEMy
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) October 30, 2021
South Africa had looked to be dead and buried when they lost both captain and top-scorer Temba Bavuma (46 off 46 balls) and Dwaine Pretorius off consecutive balls to Hasaranga de Silva in the 18th over.
However, Miller and Rabada’s pyrotechnics ensured South Africa managed to scrape over the line with an unbroken stand of 34 off just 15 balls. Quinton de Kock could only manage 12 runs upon his return after taking a collective knee with his team.
The batters ensured the good work done earlier in the day by Tabraiz Shamsi (3/17), who passed 50 T20I wickets in the calendar year in the process, and Pretorius’ identical figures at the death did not go unrewarded.
💚 #SAvSL #T20WorldCup #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/PmY28D6cMr
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) October 30, 2021
Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka was the only batter from either team that could play with any form of fluency as he stroked a 58-ball 72 that ensured the 2014 champions could muster together 142 runs, but unfortunately it was not enough on the day for Mickey Arthur’s team.
🚨 RESULT | #Proteas WIN BY 4 WICKETS
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) October 30, 2021
Miller and Rabada shared a 15-ball 34-run stand to take the team over the line, while captain Bavuma top-scored with 46.
Earlier, both Shamsi and Pretorius returned figures of 3/17
📝 Scorecard https://t.co/c1ztvrT95P#SAvSL #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/GBgUbHLLSM
SCORECARD
Sri Lanka: 142 all out (Nissanka 72, Shamsi 3/17, Pretorius 3/17)
South Africa: 146/6 (Bavuma 46, Miller 23*, Rabada 15*)
Result: South Africa won by 4 wickets
@ZaahierAdams