SA's running disasters and Chandimal's precision change

It's far too early in the tournament for South Africa's 'chokers' tag to be given an airing, but they didn't help themselves with some brainless running in the final over. Although the batsmen should have spoken after the penultimate over and nutted out a strategy, David Miller and Dale Steyn were on disparate wavelengths when Miller squeezed a Lasith Malinga yorker to midwicket. With 15 needed, Miller didn't budge, not wanting to give up the strike, but Steyn was haring down. The result was an easy run out at the non-strikers' end. Two balls later, Miller ran himself out, sauntering the first run, before deciding to go for a second on the turn. Predictably, he too was metres out.

Albie Morkel appeared to be sealing the match for South Africa in the 17th over, when he struck consecutive sixes off Ajantha Mendis over wide long on. But Dinesh Chandimal made a fielding change and placed himself at the position. The third ball - a full toss - would have gone over the ropes as well, given what had preceded it, but Morkel had not hit it quite as well, and Chandimal completed the catch over his head, right on the rope.

South African could have breathed easier when Dale Steyn was declared fit for their World T20 opener but their relief would have given way to panic after his first five deliveries. Three of them were too full and Kusal Perera sent them to the boundary while two of them had to be bowled again because they were wides. Just as it seemed Steyn was off colour, he switched on. He ended the over by firing the last ball in to Tillakaratne Dilshan, full, fast and headed toward the stumps. Dilshan swiped across the line, missed and heard the death rattle. Offstump was out of the ground and Steyn was back.

Kusal Perera was on his way to recording the second fastest T20 fifty against South Africa, after Chris Gayle, and it was obvious he was in a hurry. He was on 49 and wanted to sneak a single off JP Duminy after defending him to cover but Kumar Sangakkara thought the run was too risky and sent him back. Perera had to rush back to the crease and as he realised a direct hit from the fielder may find him short, dived in. He hit the ground hard and immediately put a hand to his chest. It wasn't pain though, Perera had winded himself and needed a moment to get his breath back. So did South Africa's bowlers.

South Africa kept Sri Lanka to 37 runs for six overs between the ninth and 15th over and limiting run-scoring was a priority. Farhaan Behardien, on the long-on boundary knew that. When Dinesh Chandimal timed an Albie Morkel delivery to perfection through mid-off, Behardien scooted around from his position and slid across the ground to cut if off and save Morkel from conceding an extra two.