Proteas hand Lankans an 8-wkt pounding

South Africa handed Sri Lanka a 8-wicket thumping as they comfortably overtook 120 with 14 balls remaining in the Super Ten ICC WT20 2016 match at Delhi under the lights.

Unbeaten 47 run partnership for the third wicket between Amla and ABD in 4.4 overs took South Africa home without anymore hiccups.

Hashim Amla was not out at 56. He faced 52 balls and struck five fours and a six in his match-winning knock. AB de Villiers scored 20 from 12 late in the innings.

For Sri Lanka, only Lakmal managed to pick up a wicket. The rest of his teammates lacked the bite in their bowling to trouble South African batters.

Lakmal brought Sri Lanka back into the match when he stopped South Africa’s second wicket stand at 60 in the 13th over.

South Africa lost their second wicket when Faf du Plessis was given out lbw. He wandered outside off to try and play a scoop, but Lakmal bowled fast and straight. Full toss, took a big chunk of the inside edge onto the pad. Tough luck Faf!

Proteas skipper was dismissed after a well-made 31 from 36 balls with three fours to his name.

Sudden loss concentration by Quinton de Kock saw the South Africa opener return to the pavilion in the second over of their chase.

Amla camped back and played a back of a length ball to backward point. The 39-year old Dilshan was alert to the situation and saw Quinton out of his crease searching for a run. A direct hit from Dilshan gave Sri Lanka their first breakthrough.

Quinton de Kock was run out for nine runs.

Earlier, Sri Lanka limped to 120 as they lost their last nine wickets for only 75 runs. Dilshan topscored with 36 while Chandimal and Shanaka chipped in with 21 and 20 respectively.

For the Proteas, Abbott, Phangiso and Behardien took two wickets each. None of the bowlers were taken to the cleaners except Steyn who gave 33 in four overs and picked up a wicket.

A run out finished off Sri Lanka, as they folded for a below par total.

Abbott bowled the last over and picked up his second wicket by knocking back the stumps of Sri Lankan tailender Vandersay.

South Africa pacer Abbott got in the act in the 18 th over, and took the eighth Sri Lankan wicket to fall at Delhi tonight. Herath was dismissed for two runs when he was caught behind trying to run the ball to third man.

Sri Lanka sink further…

Dale Steyn hammered another nail into Sri Lanka’s coffin when he got his first wicket of the match in the 15th over.

Any flicker of hope for a decent total for the Lankans went with Perera’s wicket. Sri Lanka allrounder whacked a wide ball from Steyn straight into the hands of Behardien at cover.

Wickets continue to tumble for the Sri Lanka side in shock!

Proteas fans were dancing in the aisles when Imran Tahir gave his team the sixth breakthrough in the 14th over.

Tahir’s googly went through the bat and pad and disturbed Kapugedera’s furniture. Sri Lankan batsman was out for four runs.

Sri Lanka’s bad day got worse in the 13th over, when South Africa allrounder Behardien picked up his second wicket of the game. It was the turn for Dilshan to follow his teammates back to the dug-out.

Dilshan played the conventional sweep, the ball was too full perhaps for the shot and struck the batsman in front. Sri Lanka opener scored 36 from 40 with four fours and a six, but needed to carry on.

South Africa on top, Sri Lanka sink…

South Africa skipper brought Behardien in the 11th over, and his decision paid off almost immediately. Jayasuriya drove a length ball outside off on the up, played too early and was caught in the covers.

Sri Lanka all at sea after Jayasuriya departs…

A bad piece of running between the wickets by Sri Lankan batsman Siriwardana gave South Africa their third breakthrough in the tenth over.

Siriwardana took on the arm of South African captain when he was halfway down the track and with nowhere to go…Sri Lanka batter went back to the pavilion after making 15 from 10 balls.

Sri Lanka were rattled after five overs, and the quickish start seemed a distant memory as South Africa spinner Phangiso came back with vengeance after being smashed for boundaries.

Thirimanne was dismissed for a golden duck as he failed to make contact with a straight delivery from Phangiso. Nothing fancy…just a little turn and timber!

No magic from the pitch, just the left-arm spinner deceiving a batsman in bad form with a beauty. Beautiful bowling from Phangiso.

Chandimal was the first wicket to fall for Sri Lanka when Phangiso’s flat and pacy delivery sneaked in through the gap between bat and pad when the batsman went for an expansive cover drive and pegged back the leg stump.

Sri Lanka opener made 21 from 20 with two fours and a six.

Sri Lanka got the start they wanted with stand-in captain Chandimal firing away in all cylinders. Chandimal took on the Proteas bowlers and smoked Dale Steyn for 16 in his second over.

Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and decided to field first given the conditions at Delhi against Sri Lanka led by Dinesh Chandimal in the Super Ten match of ICC WT20 2016 in India.

Defending champions and one of the pre-tournament favourites head into their final fixture of their World Twenty20 with nothing to play for as Sri Lanka and South Africa square off at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi.

There were no visible tears when Sri Lanka were knocked out of the World T20, but to see Angelo Mathews and his men speak, and to read their tweets the next day, there is clearly some hurt.

South Africa's problem has been their inability to put up an all-round performance. Against England, their batsmen turned up spectacularly but the bowlers couldn't hold their nerve.

The bit of confidence gained from a win over Afghanistan was swiftly shattered in their low-scoring defeat to West Indies, where their batting fallibility came to the fore.

As each team attempts to pick itself up to play for pride, South Africa do appear the better team. Sri Lanka's top order did not play seam well against England, which is a weakness the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Chris Morris, and - if he gets a game - Dale Steyn could exploit.

With so many South Africans in the IPL now, it is difficult to say which team will be more comfortable in these conditions.

South Africa

Quinton de Kock(w), Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis(c), AB de Villiers, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, David Wiese, Dale Steyn, Kyle Abbott, Aaron Phangiso, Imran Tahir

Sri Lanka

Dinesh Chandimal(w/c), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Milinda Siriwardana, Lahiru Thirimanne, Chamara Kapugedera, Thisara Perera, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Rangana Herath, Jeffrey Vandersay, Suranga Lakmal

The official coin of ICC World T20 2016 at India used for the toss. Photo: ICC