six, that's some shot, actually, but one that doesn't make much of a difference. That was the first poor ball Malinga delivered in the over, overpitched on middle stump. Tahir backs away, clears the front him and larrups that over deep extra cover for a big six.
Sri Lanka vs South Africa, 14th Match, Group 1 at Chattogram, Mar 22 2014 - Match Result
No doubt the C-word will be thrown around liberally in reference to South Africa, but it's early days in the tournament yet. I'm Andrew Fidel Fernando signing off on behalf of our scorer Gopi Rangarajan as well. Do hop across to the other match, where the toss has just taken place.
Mr.G: "Saffers need to consider playing Parnell in the next game. Steyn bats too high at 8, and with Behardien ineffective at international level, that batting is essentially a seven man affair with Faf unavailable."
Kusal Perera is predictably the man of the match for his 61 off 40.
This is part of what makes Sri Lanka a very, very good T20 team. They have a large cast of bowlers, and one of them routinely steps up to bowl a defininng over. Today it was Kulasekara. They also play a lot of tight matches, and knew exactly how to close this one out. South Africa made some strange decisions, and none of the batsmen that were dominating the bowling were willing to stick it out.
Dinesh Chandimal: "Everyone is over the moon, and I'm full of beans again. Kusal hit some good boundaries to get us a good start and Mathews finished it off well. Death bowling was very good."
Mayank Sharma: "That penultimate over by Kulasekara was the clincher, in my opinion. Getting 15 runs off a Malinga over after that was always going to be difficult."
squeezed out straight to cover, Sri Lanka know they have this now, as long as Malinga doesn't overstep
Tahir gets under this one which is just short of being a yorker, It goes high over mid off, who goes haring after it, but doesn't get there
yorker again, dug out to mid off, batsmen think about running but they don't
gone, that's probably all over. Sri Lanka keeping their nerve, because they play a last-ball finish every other week, while South Africa are just giving it away. Another yorker, this time drilled to long off, and Miller jogs down the pitch for the first one, as if he doesn't want the second. Suddenly when he reaches the non-striker's he decides he wants two. It's far too late by then. The throw is already on its way to Sanga, who breaks the stumps with Miller miles out. Sri Lanka feel they've won it now
Steyn is running down the pitch, but Miller sends him back and oh dear, what a silly way to go. The batsmen should have been talking about whether Miller needed to keep strike during this over or not, but they clearly had not. Miller squeezes an impeccable yorker out to midwicket, and although there is a tight run there, he doesn't want to hand Steyn the strike. By the time Steyn turns back, Malinga is directing the ball onto the stumps, albeit with a fumble.
It's Malinga v Miller for the last over. Cracking finish
lovely over from Kule. Yorker again, this time about a foot wide of off. Steyn tries to drive that down the ground but misses again. Kule celebrates with a fist pump.
Wide yorker, slower ball as well, nicely bowled by Kule. Steyn throws his bat at it but doesn't connect
15 from 8 needed. SA have a better chance as long as Miller is out there. Steyn takes guard. Fine leg is in the circle.
another yorker, driven wide of long off, but Steyn refuses the second this time
superb running. Steyn with a sore hamstring does very well. That was another yorker, squeezed out wide of long on by Miller, but he calls his partner through and they get there safely
Dale Steyn is at the crease, but the batsmen crossed while the ball was in the air,
gone! Behardien goes, it gets Miller on strike, but Sri Lanka will take that, if nothing else, because it's a dot ball. Kule slowed up his pace a touch, and delivered a length ball on off stump. Behaardien slogged at it, but didn't connect well at all. Hits it down Mahela's throat at long on.
yorker on off stump first up, drilled to long off where it's nicely fielded
Kule bowls the 19th.
Xolile: "The Dutch would have chased down this target in 11.2 overs"
yorker on the stumps, but Miller is not even slightly troubled by it. Hits it to midwicket for a single and keeps the strike. Ten off that over
another yorker, again dug out nicely towards long off. Thisara Perera is slow to come off the fence and it allows two, much to Sanga's dismay
lovely inswinging yorker from Malinga, jammed out nicely by Behaardien. Gets it far enough away from Malinga to get a single
a yorker on the pads, whipped away powerfully to the legside sweeper
lovely shot from Miller as Malinga misses his length. This one is overpitched outside the off stump and Miller throws his hands at it and gets it past cover. The long off running around can't get close to it
yorker on the stumps, dug out down the ground for a single
Ntokozo: "This is my problem with Albie! Seems like he hasn't learnt anything since he was dropped!" Malinga is back for his penultimate over.
flat, length ball turning away from the batsmen. He punches that away towards long on and sprints a single. A throw comes in and hits the stumps at the non strikers' end, but the batsman is found to be well inside the crease on replays, and what's worse for Sri Lanka, they get an extra run off the deflection
yorker length ball on leg-stump, Miller squeezes this away towards long on
Mohammed: "We wants a Malings vs Miller contest to see who would prevail as a winner. "If it's in the v it's in the tree" or "On the stumps, break the stumps""
Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong | |
Toss | Sri Lanka, elected to bat first |
Series | |
Season | 2013/14 |
Player Of The Match | |
Match number | T20I no. 379 |
Hours of play (local time) | 15.30 start, First Session 15.30-16.50, Interval 16.50-17.10, Second Session 17.10-18.30 |
Match days | 22 March 2014 - daynight (20-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | Sri Lanka 2, South Africa 0 |