Sri Lanka vs South Africa, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Match Highlights: Proteas cruise to nine-wicket victory over Sri Lanka

Faf du Plessis, South Africa captain:

Long time coming, eh? It was a good game, we did ourselves justice. We showed the talent we have in that dressing room. I thought we bowled really well, and Dwaine was exceptional. We’ve been trying to get him into the team so badly, but it wasn’t working from a combination point of view.

I thought we didn’t start well. The nature of the wicket told me we had to bowl straight lines. That’s why we had Dwaine Pretorius and Andile Phehlukwayo on a little sooner than expected. It looked like the kind of wicket where if you have a consistent top of the stumps line and length, it would be harder to deal with the bowling.

It feels bittersweet. It doesn’t feel like it means that much. You almost feel like it’s a little bit too late. But I think we showed how well we bat today. Hashim and myself gave us a great foundation. If you have a good partnership, you can put anyone under pressure.

I think that Bangladesh was the one that took the wind out of our sails. Bangladesh played an unbelievable game and because we had a game straight after that, we maybe carried our morale into that one. The first week put us back, but we can’t hide from that.

Man of the match, Dwaine Pretorius: 

Yeah, I’m just happy we got over the line today and I’m glad I could play a part in it.

I try to work as hard as possible to be fit when I’m called up, I get a lot of flak for that from the guys. I’m glad I got to contribute when they needed me.

The guys are stoked. We showed today what we’re all about as a unit, but I’m sad it only came now.

After 37.2 overs,South Africa 206/1 ( Hashim Amla 80 , Faf du Plessis (C) 96)

Perera bowls what turns out to be the final couple of deliveries of the day. Amla collects a single off the first ball, before du Plessis tickles the ball towards the fine leg fence to collect the winning boundary, finishing unbeaten on 96, with Amla on 80 at the other end. A dominant display from the Proteas, absolutely bossing the Sri Lankans throughout the match barring the first powerplay of the Lankan innings.

After 37 overs,South Africa 201/1 ( Hashim Amla 79 , Faf du Plessis (C) 92)

Looks like du Plessis has given up on his pursuit of a century as Amla collects a double off each of the first two deliveries to bring up the 200 for the Proteas and inch closer to the finish line. Amla punches the ball through square for a single off the penultimate ball.

After 36 overs,South Africa 196/1 ( Hashim Amla 74 , Faf du Plessis (C) 92)

Amla collects a single off the first delivery. Du Plessis then drills the ball down the ground for a boundary two balls later, entering the 90s in the process. Dot off each of the last three balls. Malinga signs off with 1/47. South Africa need 8 to win from 14 overs.

After 35 overs,South Africa 191/1 ( Hashim Amla 73 , Faf du Plessis (C) 88)

Both du Plessis and Amla collect a single each, before the former drives the ball straight down the ground to collect a boundary off the last delivery. South Africa need 13 to win from 15 overs.

After 34 overs,South Africa 185/1 ( Hashim Amla 72 , Faf du Plessis (C) 83)

Lasith Malinga returns to bowl out his remaining overs — two in total. Concedes seven runs off his penultimate over, four of which are collected by du Plessis off the penultimate delivery with a flick towards the square leg fence. South Africa are just 19 away from victory now, with another 96 balls left.

After 33 overs,South Africa 178/1 ( Hashim Amla 71 , Faf du Plessis (C) 77)

Single collected off each delivery of the over barring the fifth, in which du Plessis cuts the ball behind point to collect his sixth four. South Africa need 26 to win from 17 overs.

After 32 overs,South Africa 169/1 ( Hashim Amla 69 , Faf du Plessis (C) 70)

Three singles collected off Perera’s fifth over. Drinks called on the field for the final time in this match. Should be a cakewalk for the Proteas from here, with 35 runs left to score from 18 overs.

After 31 overs,South Africa 166/1 ( Hashim Amla 68 , Faf du Plessis (C) 68)

Amla paddle-sweeps the ball towards fine leg off the first ball, coming back for a third run. Wide conceded down the leg side next ball. Du Plessis then collects a brace next delivery, and follows it up with a single off the fourth. Amla is adjudged lbw off the last delivery, and he goes for the review after a quick chat with his captain. He starts walking off even before the HawkEye loads on the screen, and is called back after the ball is found to be pitching outside leg. Seven runs off the over. South Africa need 38 to win from 19 overs.

After 30 overs,South Africa 159/1 ( Hashim Amla 65 , Faf du Plessis (C) 65)

Karunaratne brings Perera in place of Lakmal, who leaked 13 runs off his previous over. Five singles collected off the over, with Faf and Amla showing no signs of hurry as of now. South Africa need 45 from 20 overs.

After 29 overs,South Africa 154/1 ( Hashim Amla 62 , Faf du Plessis (C) 63)

Du Plessis brings up the team 150 with a single off the first ball. Two singles and a wide added to the South African total off the remaining deliveries of the 29th over. Exactly 50 runs needed from 21 overs for the Proteas.

After 28 overs,South Africa 149/1 ( Hashim Amla 60 , Faf du Plessis (C) 61)

Lakmal returns to the attack in place of Malinga. Du Plessis brings up his half-century in 70 deliveries, collecting a single off the first delivery of the over to bring up the milestone. The South African skipper then collects a six and a four off the third and fourth deliveries to propel South Africa closer to the finish line. 13 runs leaked by Lakmal at the start of a new spell. South Africa need 55 to win from 22 overs.

Hashim Amla-Faf du Plessis’ last 10 ODI stands:

118* (ongoing), 50, 101, 0, 145, 112, 29, 65, 63, 35

After 27 overs,South Africa 136/1 ( Hashim Amla 59 , Faf du Plessis (C) 49)

Five runs conceded by de Silva off his fourth over, including two wides off the fourth delivery. South Africa need 68 to win from 23 overs.

After 26 overs,South Africa 131/1 ( Hashim Amla 58 , Faf du Plessis (C) 47)

Another quiet over from Malinga, with just a single coming off it. The veteran pacer has just two overs left in his kitty, and the Proteas will be more than happy to see the pacer off. 100-partnership up between Amla and du Plessis! South Africa need 73 to win from 24 overs.

After 25 overs,South Africa 130/1 ( Hashim Amla 57 , Faf du Plessis (C) 47)

Tidy over from Dhananjaya de Silva, who returns to the attack in place of Udana, conceding four singles. South Africa are cruising at the halfway stage, with nine wickets at their disposal, needing 74 to win from 25 overs.

After 24 overs,South Africa 126/1 ( Hashim Amla 55 , Faf du Plessis (C) 45)

Tight over from Malinga, collecting his first maiden of the day. South Africa need another 78 to win from 26 overs.

After 23 overs,South Africa 126/1 ( Hashim Amla 55 , Faf du Plessis (C) 45)

Seven runs collected off Udana’s third over, including a boundary to du Plessis off the fourth delivery. South Africa need 78 to win from 27 overs.

After 22 overs,South Africa 119/1 ( Hashim Amla 53 , Faf du Plessis (C) 40)

Lasith Malinga brought back in place of Jeevan Mendis, hoping to break the partnership. Du Plessis whips a low full toss towards square leg for a double off the first delivery, following it up with a single. Single to Amla off the penultimate delivery. South Africa need 85 to win from 28 overs.

After 21 overs,South Africa 115/1 ( Hashim Amla 52 , Faf du Plessis (C) 37)

Decent over from Udana, conceding four off it. Sri Lanka desperately need a wicket now if they are to preserve their chances of pulling off an unlikely win this evening. South Africa need 89 to win from 29 overs.

After 20 overs,South Africa 111/1 ( Hashim Amla 51 , Faf du Plessis (C) 35)

Amla brings up his half-century with a single off the first delivery of the over. Du Plessis then hits the ball towards wide long off for a double two deliveries later. Six collected off the over. South Africa need 93 to win from 30 overs.

After 19 overs,South Africa 105/1 ( Hashim Amla 49 , Faf du Plessis (C) 31)

Isuru Udana replaces Suranga Lakmal in the attack. Starts off from over the wicket to du Plessis. Single collected off each delivery of the over save the third, which goes for a wide. Seven off the over, with the Proteas crossing the 100-run mark in this over.