South Africa kicked off their T20 World Cup campaign with a commanding six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, highlighting concerns over the drop-in pitches in New York. Sri Lanka struggled on the challenging surface, posting their lowest-ever T20 total of 77, with only three batters reaching double figures. Kusal Mendis top-scored for Sri Lanka with a laborious 19 off 30 balls.
South Africa’s bowlers delivered an exceptional performance, led by Anrich Nortje who achieved career-best T20 figures of 4-7. Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj also made significant contributions, each claiming two wickets, as Sri Lanka collapsed.
Chasing the modest target, South Africa’s batters approached the tricky pitch with caution. Quinton de Kock anchored the innings with a top score of 20, and Tristan Stubbs adapted his usual aggressive style to score a patient 13 off 28 balls. Despite Wanindu Hasaranga’s efforts to revive Sri Lanka’s hopes with figures of 2-22, South Africa reached the target with 22 balls to spare.
Heinrich Klaasen, who remained unbeaten on 19, and David Miller, not out on six, ensured the victory for the Proteas. Klaasen praised the efforts to prepare the field under challenging conditions, saying, “Coming out here they did a brilliant job to get the field ready. Hopefully, the wicket will get a little bit better. It is brand new, which is a big factor.”
South Africa’s comprehensive win sets a strong tone for their World Cup campaign, while Sri Lanka will need to regroup quickly to keep their tournament hopes alive.
