World Cup, South Africa vs Sri Lanka Live: South Africa crush Sri Lanka by 9 wickets

Congratulations to @KumarSanga2 and @MahelaJay on your magnificent careers !!! The game is poorer with your absence! #CWC2015

— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) March 18, 2015

That’s it! South Africa break the knockout jinx. They crush Sri Lanka by 9 wickets to enter semis.

Malinga starts off with a slower bouncer outside off, de Kock cuts it over backward point for three, he then slices one through point for a couple. He then crushes one through covers for a boundary to hit the wining runs. A comprehensive win and they have broken the jinx in style. De Kock remains unbeaten on 78 and Du Plessis on 21.

After 17 overs, South Africa 123/1 (de Kock 69, du Plessis 20)

Kaushal has bowled pretty well and he is unlucky off the first ball as he induces an outside edge and it flies past the first slip fielder to third man for three. Du Plessis takes another couple of make it 5 runs off the over.  11 needed off 33 overs now.

After 15 overs, South Africa 118/1 (de Kock 66, du Plessis 18)

Good stuff from South Africa in that over and good running too. Three 2s, two singles  off the over. 8 runs off the over without taking any risks. South Africa need just 14 runs now.

After 14 overs, South Africa 110/1 (de Kock 61, du Plessis 15)

Du Plessis takes a single off the first ball and then de Kock hammers a pull off Thisara Perera for a boudnary. He then goes for a wild swing but mistimes it to deep mid-wicket where Kusal dives full length to his right but doesn’t manage to hold on to it. The ball rolls over to the fence but it was a spectacular effort. 10 runs off the over.

After 13 overs, South Africa 100/1 (de Kock 53, du Plessis 14)

The 100 is up for South Africa. De Kock is growing from strength to strength. After those punches and drives, he now unfurls the paddle sweep for a couple.  Two singles off the next five balls make it 4 runs off the Kaushal over.

After 12 overs, South Africa 96/1 (de Kock 50, du Plessis 13)

De Kock is in cruise control! it’s full on middle, de Kock smashes it through mid on for four. Chameera then bowls a disastrous leg side wide which runs away to the fence. The next one is a bouncer, de Kock looks to pull but gets a top edge onto his helmet and it flies over the keeper for a four. He starts to celebrate his fifty but to his dismay, the umpire signals it as leg byes considering it went off the helmet. He then smashes one but straight to deep square leg to move on to 49. He then again pulls one to deep square leg for a single to get to his fifty! 17 runs off the over. South Africa need just 36 now.

FIFTY for de Kock!

De Kock gets to his 50 off just 39 bals, Nine fours in his innings so far. He’s back in form!

After 11 overs, South Africa 79/1 (de Kock 44, du Plessis 12)

Kaushal bowls from over the wicket. He gives it good flight and concedes just two singles off the over. He’s looked impressive so far and one wonder’s why wasnt’ he played in previous matches when Herath was injured.

After 10 overs, South Africa 77/1 (de Kock 43, du Plessis 11)

De Kock is playing some classy shots now. He at first stands tall and punches it through covers for a boundary. Chameera then oversteps and delivers a short one, de Kock pulls it through square leg for another boundary. Chameera hits back well and delivers a good yorker on the Free Hit delivery. Sri Lanka then have a fielder at deep square leg. De Kock pulls the next one to that fielder for just a single. Du Plessis flicks the penultimate ball of the over behind square leg for a couple. Chameera then bowls a quick bouncer, Du Plessis looks to pull but misses. They go up in a caught behind appeal but the umpire says no and calls it a wide. A single off the last ball makes it 16 runs off the over.

After 10 overs, South Africa 61/1 (de Kock 34, du Plessis 7)

Kaushal makes a rare mistake. After five good balls, which yield 4 runs, he drops one short. De Kock rocks back and cuts it through point for a boundary. 8 runs off the over. South Africa need 73 runs from 40 overs. The return to form of de Kock is a good sign for South Africa.

After 9 overs, South Africa 53/1 (De Kock 29, Du Plessis 1)

The 50 has come up for South Africa. The batsmen are playing with ease and Malinga is having problems with his front foot no ball. Du Plessis at first dabs it to third man for a single and the tucks it to the leg side for one. Malinga then over steps and drops short, de Kock mistimes his pull over mid on for three. Du Plessis goes for a wild swing off the Free Hit but Malinga bowls it wide outside off which is called a wide. Malinga again bowls it wide but this time the umpire doesn’t outstretch his hands.  8 runs off the over.

After 8 overs, South Africa 45/1 (de Kock 26, Fu Plessis 1)

A very good over from Kaushal. He gave the ball good air and mixed it up well. Du Plessis and de Kock were cautious and there was just a single off the over.

After 7 overs, South Africa 44/1 (de Kock 26, Fu Plessis 0)

A successful over from Malinga. Seven runs and a wicket off it. De Kock is looking confident out in the middle and that’s good news for South Africa. He crunches one through point for four off Malinga straight after the Dinner break.

OUT! Brilliant catch by Kulasekara! H Amla c Kulasekara b Malinga 16 (23b 1×4 0x6), After 6.4 overs, South Africa 40/1 (De Kock 22)

It’s short and wide outside off, Amla stays in his crease and looks to slash but gets a thick outside edge. Kulasekara at third man moves to his left, dives forward and pouches a brilliant low catch. The umpire checks upstairs for a front foot no ball, it’s very close and the third umpire goes with the onfield umpire. That’s the dinner break.

After 5 overs, South Africa 37/0 (Amla 14, de Kock 22)

A good first over from debutant Kaushal. He mixed up the offspiners and doosras well in that over. Amle flicks one through mid-wicket for three and then de Kock nudges one behind square leg for a couple. The last delivery zips through and spis away. De Kock pushes at it and gets beaten. 5 runs off the over.

After 5 overs, South Africa 32/0 (Amla 11, de Kock 20)

Malinga trying to overdo things in that over. He is operating from round the wicket and bowled a couple of crushing yorkers. But in trying to do that, he ended up bowling a full toss, De Kock just placed it through point for a boundary. Malinga then oversteps and de Kock mistimes his heave through mid-wicket for a couple but then misses out on the Free Hit as it is a good yorker. 8 runs off the over. South Africa have got off to a brisk start.

After 4 overs, South Africa 24/0 (Amla 10, de Kock 14)

De Kock is on the move here. It’s doesnt look like he was out of form. Three good length delivery and all three punished to the fence. He cuts a couple through point for crunching fours and then manouvers one from off through mid-wicket for a well placed boundary. 13 runs off the over. Good stuff from de Kock.

After 3 overs, South Africa 11/0 (Amla 9, de Kock 2)

A good over from Malinga. He bowls a bouncer first up, Amla looks to pull but ends up mistiming it over mid-wicket for a couple. He then beats Amla on the drive off the very next ball. Malinga then bowls a pin point yorker and de Kock somehow digs it out. 5 runs off the over.

After 2 overs, South Africa 6/0 (Amla 5, De Kock 1)

A good start from Dilshan. Just two singles off it. It is definitely holding onto the surface and both Amla and de Kock found it difficult to time the ball. Anyhow, it’s a patience game for South Africa.

After 1 over, South Africa 4/0 (Amla 4, de Kock 0)

Hashim Amla gets off the mark in style and that too off the first ball, it’s overpitched from Malinga, Amla caresses it through covers for a boundary. Malinga hits back to bowl five dots. Malinga not getting much swing but he adjusted his lines well.

Best bowling avg in World Cups (Min. 10 innings) -

Tahir 14.93
Hogg 19.23
Warne 19.50
Muralitharan 19.63.#CWC15 #SAvSL #SA

— Nikhil Mane 🏏🇦🇺 (@nikhiltait) March 18, 2015

That’s it! Sri Lanka all out for 133!

OUT! Tahir gets his fourth. Malinga rocks back and punches it straight to cover. L Malinga c Miller b Imran Tahir 3 (7m 6b 0x4 0x6). 

This is shambles for Sri Lanka. The Spinners have just ripped through their batting line-up. 4 wickets for Tahir and a hat-trick for Duminy. Sri Lanka lost 6/19, from 114/4 to 133 all-out. Morkel, Steyn and Abott took a wicket each. Sri Lanka were left in inertia and never recovered from then on. Sangakkara played a bizarre innings of 45 from 96 balls. The ball was holding onto the surface and the South African spinners made the most of it. It will take a choke of the highest level for South Africa to lose this now!