Hashim Amla's composed 50 after an inspired bowling show helped South Africa beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets to notch up a consolation win in World Twenty20 in New Delhi on Monday.
Chasing a modest 121 for victory in an inconsequential final league match, South Africa rode on Amla’s unbeaten 56 to canter home in 17.4 overs and get some pride back in the sixth edition of the tournament.
After losing opener Quiton de Kock early in their chase, Amla and Faf Du Plessis stitched a 60-run second wicket stand to make things easy for their team.
Du Plessis was trapped lbw off Suranga Lakmal for 31 runs in the 12th over.
Amla, who struck his fifth T20 half-century, made sure that there were no more hiccups as he stitched a 47-run unbeaten partnership with AB de Villiers (20), who hit a massive six to seal the win.
In the first half of the game, the South Africa bowlers restricted holders Sri Lanka for 120 runs in 19.3 overs after captain Du Plessis opted to field first.
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Sri Lankan opening pair, Dinesh Chandimal (21) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (36), did give the team a brisk start but soon lost the momentum after losing a couple of wickets.
Stand-in captain Chandimal and Dilshan looked purposeful during their respective knocks as the duo got stuck into Dale Steyn’s second over which cost 16 runs.
But the introduction of spin changed the course for Proteas as Aaron Phangiso struck twice in his first over.
The left-arm spinner cleaned up Chandimal and then Lahiru Thirimanne for nought on the final two deliveries of his over to be on a hat-trick.
Phangiso failed to strike thrice but ended up with impressive figures of two for 26 in his four overs.
Dilshan tried to steady the innings amid the regular wicket-fall but became Farhaan Behardien’s second victim to be lbw while attempting a reverse sweep.
The South African dominance continued as Lankan batsmen failed to show application.
Medium-pacer Kyle Abbott bagged two scalps as new-ball partner Steyn also enjoyed just his second outing in the tournament after making Thisara Perera trudge back to the dug out.
Dasun Shanaka, coming in at number eight, made an unbeaten 20 to give some respect to the total, which proved inadequate against a star-studded South African line-up.
South Africa ended the league table on third position with two wins and as many losses, while a lacklustre Sri Lanka stayed just above laggards Afghanistan with three losses.
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