Sri Lanka lose thrilling Group 1 match to South Africa by four wickets

(Sharjah) South Africa made it two wins out of three with their victory over Sri Lanka in the Super 12 stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021.

Needing 22 runs from nine balls, Kagiso Rabada and David Miller soaked in the pressure to strike three sixes and a boundary to chase 143 with four wickets and one ball to spare.

It marked a dramatic turnaround for South Africa, who had been pegged back early by a double-strike from Dushmantha Chameera, and then at the death by a hat-trick from Wanindu Hasaranga.

On a Sharjah surface where batters of both teams struggled, Pathum Nissanka held firm with a stroke-filled 72 off 58 to help Sri Lanka post 142. However, it proved insufficient as the Islanders slipped to their second loss in three Super 12 games.

But there was something for them to cheer on — a hat-trick by their leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga. Though his effort went in vain, Hasaranga registered himself in the record books.

Hasaranga became the fourth bowler from Sri Lanka after Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga (did it twice), and Akila Dananjaya to pick up a hat-trick in T20Is.

He also became the third bowler after Brett Lee and Curtis Campher to achieve the landmark in Men’s T20 World Cups. Hasaranga is also the fourth bowler after Lee, Perera, and Malinga to take hat-tricks in both ODIs and T20Is.