Sri Lanka Vs South Africa, T20 World Cup Highlights: Proteas Beat SL By Six Wickets In New York

South Africa have defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets in their T20 World Cup opener on Monday at the Nassau International Stadium in New York. The Proteas first restricted Sri Lanka to 77 in 19.1 overs, the Islanders' lowest total in T20 cricket, with Nortje coming up with envious figures of 4/7 in four overs. Opener Kusal Mendis was the top-scorer for Sri Lanka with 19 off 30 balls. The Aiden Markram-led side then notched up the required runs with the loss of four wickets. Catch the highlights of the SL vs RSA, Group D match at T20 WC 2024, right here. (Match Report | Scorecard)

South Africa Squad: Quinton de Kock(w), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram(c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Ottneil Baartman, Bjorn Fortuin

Sri Lanka Squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga(c), Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Nuwan Thushara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushmantha Chameera, Dunith Wellalage

What's SL's record against the Proteas in the T20 WCs? Here's all you need to know -

ICC have announced a record-breaking prize fund of $11.25 million USD for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, with the winners set to receive at least $2.45 million.

All-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga is eight wickets away that will take him above Lasith Malinga and make Sri Lanka's most successful bowler in the tournament.

Sri Lanka have won the toss and have opted to bat. Check the playing XIs:

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga(c), Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara

South Africa (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock(w), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram(c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Ottneil Baartman

Markram: We actually would've bowled. Not sure how the wicket is going to play. Team has been together now for few years - majority of the squad. Did well at the ODI World Cup, ideally would've liked to go a few steps further. Good facilities here. All things have gone well and it's been thoroughly enjoyable so far. We're going with four quicks and one spinner in Keshav.

Hasaranga: We're going to bat first. We can see it's a good wicket. Just want to get a good score. Our bowling attack is so strong, that's our idea. I started my cricket 1 month before. I'm ready to go. Some players came after IPL, we played two practice games. We are going with 7-4 combination, 7 batters, 4 bowlers and 2 allrounders.

It's time for the national anthems. First it will be South Africa first, then Sri Lanka.

Snipers have been deployed in and around the ground. Read more about it right here -

After a slow and watchful start, SL are 21 for the loss of one wicket after five overs. SL lost Pathum Nissanka early to Oliver Baartman but Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis have been steady and will look to counter-attack to ramp up the scoring rate.

Wow! SL are in all sorts of trouble going into the next ten overs. They have lost half of their side with 40 runs on the board. Proteas will look for more wickets and wrap this up quickly.

Lowest total for SL after first 10 overs in T20Is
40/5 vs SA New York 2024 (Today)
42/2 vs Ind Colombo RPS 2021
43/7 vs Aus Cape Town 2007
43/4 vs Ind Dharamsala 2022

In Sept 2023, SL were bundled out for a paltry score of 50 against India in the Asia Cup final. They are 46/6 against RSA in New York in the T20 WC in New York. History repeat itself?

Despite some lusty blows from veteran Angelo Mathews, Proteas are still in command of this match as they look to bowl out the Lankans well under 100. Mathews remains the only hope for the Islanders if they are to get anywhere close to 100 or more.

The lanky pacer finishes up with 4/7 in his four over spell as he has tormented the SL batting line-up.

What a terrific bowling performance from RSA to bundle out the Islanders for 77 under 20 overs in New York. Despite losing the toss, Markram's men did not lose focus and kept plucking wickets as SL stuttered in New York. Nortje took four wickets with Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada taking two each.

He's a world class player (Nortje). Quicks allowed him to settle in. Glad for him. The way the guys handled things was phenomenal. The way Aiden marshalled the troops was exceptional. There is some movement for seamers, but if you apply yourself... It is a dream come true. Making debut for T20 World Cup is exceptional.

77 vs SA New York 2024 (today)
82 vs Ind Vizag 2016
87 vs Aus Bridgetown 2010
87 vs Ind Cuttack 2017
91 vs Eng Southampton 2021

RSA have lost Reeza Hendricks early in the run-chase of 78 against SL in New York.

SL bowlers have been spot-on with their line and length and it came to fruition with the wicket of Aiden Markram. Tristan Stubbs survived a DRS review but all in all, SL have been on the mark in the five overs.

South Africa need 31 runs in 60 balls with eight wickets in hand. Proteas lost their skipper and Reeza Hendricks early on but QdK and Tristan Stubbs have rebuild from then on as they look to chase down the paltry target.

RSA Are 72/4 after 15 overs and are just one hit away from winning this Group D encounter in New York.

SL 77 (19.1 Overs)

RSA 80/4 (16.2 Overs)

Definitely, this will get some momentum going. Tough few days, we've worked hard and it's nice to get some momentum. Very happy, I've been feeling good from the last few games, finally great to have a good game and get a few wickets. The guys did well to restrict them to a low score. Been a while since I got many wickets and was happy to be helpful in the team's win. We needed to assess as quickly as possible (on the conditions), it was up and down at times (on the wicket), I needed to hit my straps, hit the wicket hard, it was important that we got some early wickets. It was a tough one, practicing on these drop-in wickets is hard, we weren't able to bowl on the pitch on the pre-match day, the plans were simple, that helped me, I just need to get my rhythm better in the next few games.

Our batters tried for 160-170. To be honest this was a 120 wicket especially with our bowlers. We went with our strength - our bowling, that's why we batted first. We wanted to put a score and then defend. This is early in the tournament and we have three more games, we want to do much better, especially with our batting talent. If our batting does well, we can finish well.

Happy with the win. The batting was little up and down, probably speaks to quite a tough wicket and luckily we found ways to score on this. It was a tough one from a batting point of view, we try as much as we can to take the pitch out of it, we can take some learnings from it and we are experienced. Lots of different conditions as we move around, fortunately we have our next two here so we know what's coming but it's important to adapt as we go ahead. [on Nortje] Was not worried about him but a fantastic day for him, from a mental confidence point of view. He is massively loved in the changeroom, boys are incredibly happy and proud of him, hopefully this kicks off a great World Cup for him.

We sign off with a BIG news making rounds on the internet - Kylian Mbappe has signed for Real Madrid! That's it from us here, till then, night!