South Africa beat Sri Lanka, South Africa won by 78 runs

This was considered by some as a grudge match. Definitely by Mark Boucher. Boucher was captain and was heavily criticised when SA quit the series mid-way and returned home following a bomb in the Colombo. "We were called 'chicken' and various other things, which was unfair and uncalled for," Boucher had said on the eve of this game. "We have nothing against the any of the players, but the press in Sri Lanka were out of order. I am definitely one of those treating this game as a grudge match."

This group is now open to all sorts of permutations and combinations. For Sri Lanka to go through, Pakistan have to win all their matches and then the net run rate will come into the picture.

Join us on October 25 for the New Zealand v Pakistan game at Mohali. Click here

to read the preview by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan

39.1

Kemp to Fernando, OUT

South Africa have scripted a wonderful come-from-behind victory. The final nail in the coffin was delivered by Kemp. Low dipping yorker catches Fernando in front, leaving Vaas stranded and Sri Lanka perilously close to being ousted from the tournament

Dilhara Fernando lbw b Kemp 4 (7b 1x4 0x6 13m) SR: 57.14

Over39

8 runs

SL 141/9CRR: 3.61 RRR: 7.18

WPUJC Vaas 29 (34b 4x4)CRD Fernando 4 (6b 1x4)

M Ntini2/24 (9)

38.6

Ntini to Vaas, 2 runs

short and Vaas rocks back to pull it over midwicket.

38.5

Ntini to Vaas, FOUR runs

drilled straight down the ground. Half-volley on the middle and off stump line, muscled past the bowler

38.4

•

Ntini to Vaas, no run

38.3

Ntini to Vaas, 2 runs

short and pulled over midwicket. Kemp makes a good diving stop near the ropes. Its been tremendous fielding display from both teams today. Both Jonty Rhodes and Trevor Penny would be pretty happy with their boys.

38.2

•

Ntini to Vaas, no run

leans forward to push a fullish delivery to mid-off

38.1

•

Ntini to Vaas, no run

driven straight. too straight as it cleans up the sticks at the other end.

Over38

5 runs

SL 133/9CRR: 3.50 RRR: 7.25

CRD Fernando 4 (6b 1x4)WPUJC Vaas 21 (28b 3x4)

A Nel3/41 (9)

37.6

Nel to Fernando, FOUR runs

spanked past mid-on. Short of length delivery, outside the off, swatted away

37.5

•

Nel to Fernando, no run

bouncer and Fernando ducks under. Flies over the head.

37.4

•

Nel to Fernando, no run

almost game over. Fernando pokes at a fullish delivery but doesn't get a nick

37.3

•

Nel to Fernando, no run

short of length, outside the off, steered to point

37.2

Nel to Vaas, 1 run

short of length, on the middle, pulled to mid-on

37.1

•

Nel to Vaas, no run

length delivery on the off, driven to point

Over37

1 run, 1 wicket

SL 128/9CRR: 3.45 RRR: 7.07

CRD Fernando 0 (2b)WPUJC Vaas 20 (26b 3x4)

M Ntini2/16 (8)

36.6

•

Ntini to Fernando, no run

36.5

•

Ntini to Fernando, no run

hit the deck short of length, outside the off, Fernando pushes at it inside the line

36.4

Ntini to Vaas, 1 run

delivered from wide of the crease, landed on the leg and angling across, punched past point

36.3

•

Ntini to Vaas, no run

length delivery on the middle, pushed to off side

36.2

•

Ntini to Vaas, no run

36.1

Ntini to Murali, OUT

And then there were one. Murali backs away as expected and goes for a lofted shot over the bowler's head. But scoops straight to Pollock at long-on

Muthiah Muralidaran c Pollock b Ntini 3 (2b 0x4 0x6 4m) SR: 150

South Africa are all over Sri Lanka here. They have 100% record against Sri Lanka in the neutral venues in Subcontinent. 4 -0. Today could be the fifth win.

Over36

4 runs, 1 wicket

SL 127/8CRR: 3.52 RRR: 6.64

M Muralidaran 3 (1b)WPUJC Vaas 19 (23b 3x4)

A Nel3/36 (8)

35.6

Nel to Murali, 3 runs

Slapped past mid-on. On the middle, on a length, and Murali swatted it to right of mid-on

South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 13th Match at Ahmedabad, Oct 24 2006 - Match Result