1st ball: 1 run, Rabada gets the bottom-edge and finds a single.

2nd ball: SIX! DAVID MILLER IT IS! He pulls it away magnificently! Poor length from Kumara. 8 off 4 NEEDED

3rd ball: SIX! David Miller does it again!

Kumara has conceded 17 runs in three overs in this innings.

Kagiso Rabada takes the aerial route and finds a maximum! Chameera’s 19th over of the game fetches 10 overs as Rabada keeps strike. This is going down to the wire!

South Africa 128/6 in 19 overs; Target: 143

WANINDU HASARANGA YOU BEAUTY! He sends Dwaine Pretorius packing on his first delivery! Hat-trick for the Sri Lankan spinner! Only the third bowler in T20 World Cup history to take three wickets in a row – and second in this edition!

List of hat-tricks in T20 World Cups:

Brett Lee vs Bangladesh, Cape Town 2007
Curtis Campher vs The Netherlands, Abu Dhabi 2021
Wanindu Hasaranga vs South Africa, Sharjah 2021

Who else but Hasaranga. The Sri Lankan spinner does it again!

Temba Bavuma with South Africa’s first six of the innings in the 17th over! A much-needed hit for the Proteas and they certainly need a few more of those. 10 runs off the over, which gives the batters something to build on.

South Africa 112/4 in 17 overs; Target: 143

The Proteas reach the 100-run mark in the 16th over of the innings. Both Bavuma and David Miller confined to singles on all six deliveries, which won’t hurt Sri Lanka right now. The required rate jumps over 10.

South Africa 102/4 in 16 overs; Target: 143

Just when Markram looked to shift gears, Hasaranga strikes! Markram steps behind inside the crease, making space for a cut shot. The spinner pitches it in line of the stumps and Markram fails to make a connection, as Hasaranga hits the timber.

South Africa 96/4 in 15 overs

Lahiru Kumara’s clever variation with pace on all six deliveries keeps the South African batters restricted. The required run-rate, however, has gone past 9. 

Time to shift gears.

South Africa 88/3 in 14 overs; Target: 143

Contrary to the starting overs where Bavuma and van der Dussen seemed to fight for their life while running between the wickets, this phase of innings sees both batters grabbing easy singles. 10 runs off Theekshana’s third over.

South Africa 84/3 in 13 overs; Target: 143

Both batters haven’t attempted to go big, and rightly so. A couple of twos followed by three singles in Dasun Shanaka’s first over.

South Africa 74/3 in 12 overs; Target: 143

A better over from Theekshana than his first, in which he conceded 10. He keeps the pressure intact on both the batters with line on off and marginally outside. 5 off the over.

South Africa 67/3 in 11 overs

Disciplined bowling from Sri Lanka since Chameera’s two-wicket over, in which he dismissed openers Hendricks and de Kock. An attempt for an adventurous single eventually resulted in the dismissal of van der Dussen, as captain Temba Bavuma aims to build a partnership with Aiden Markram.

Another good over from the spinner as he concedes only 3 runs. South Africa under pressure.

52/3 in 9 overs

Rassive van der Dussen departs! What a direct hit! The ferocity with which both batters were taking those risky singles, this was inevitable. 

It was one too many for van der Dussen as captain Shanaka’s brilliant direct hit cut-shorts his innings.

South Africa 49/3 in 8 overs; Target: 143

Only four from his first over. The ball is skidding and keeping low, which makes the spinner more of a threat than he already is. Both South African batters adopting a cautionary approach against him.

South Africa 44/2 in 7 overs; Target: 143

Captain Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen survive two run-out chances in the sixth over, and yet another risky single on the final ball results in four-overthrows.

If that was indeed the idea, it’s not a bad strategy!

South Africa 40/2 in 6 overs; Target:143

Tight over from Lahiru Kumara after the momentum shift in the fourth over. An appeal for obstructing the field as well, but the umpire judges it not out. 

South Africa 32/2 in 5 overs; Target: 143

We have a game here! Chameera removes the big gun. The pacer pulls back the length and de Kock – a compulsive puller of the ball – doesn’t get his timing right as he finds a top edge. Chameera springs into the chasing the ball and takes an easy catch. 

South Africa 26/2 in 4 overs; Target: 143

Chameera draws first blood! He traps Reeza Hendricks in front of the middle stump. Hendricks opts for DRS after consultation from De Kock but South Africa lose their review.

South Africa 25/1 in 3.2 overs

De Kock finds another boundary; this time, a slap towards deep midwicket. 7 runs from the over.

South Africa 21/1 in 3 overs

The South African wicketkeeper-batter slams the first boundary of the innings with a sweep towards backward point. 10 runs off Theekshana’s first over.

South Africa 14/0 in 2 overs; Target: 143

Despite overstepping the mark on the fourth delivery of the over, Chameera concedes only four runs off the first over. The pacer keeps his line straighter, not allowing either of the two batsmen to operate with open arms.

South Africa 4/0 in 1 over; Target: 143

Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks open for South Africa. Dushmantha Chameera to bowl the first over.

More than half of Sri Lanka’s runs in the innings have come from Pathum Nissanka, which speaks volumes on his incredible knock today. He held one end as the wickets continued to fall at regular intervals on the other, scoring 72 off 58 deliveries to steer Sri Lanka to a respectable score. 

A brilliant knock comes to an end. Nissanka is caught at the midwicket boundary as he lofts a length delivery. Pretorius is giving no pace for the batters, making it incredibly difficult to clear the fences even at the relatively smaller Sharjah.

Sri Lanka 134/8 in 19 overs

He had no other option but go all thrusters. Karunaratne perishes after he mistimes a slower delivery in an attempt to clear long-off.

Sri Lanka 131/7 in 18.2 overs

This has been an excellent knock from Nissanka. He’s throwing the kitchen sink on every delivery and finds three boundaries in Kagiso Rabada’s over. 

17 runs from the over!

Sri Lanka 129/6 in 18 overs

Six wickets down for Sri Lanka as their captain departs. Pretorius pulls off pace on a wide delivery outside off, Shanaka stretches to loft it over cover but doesn’t find the distance. 

A well-judged catch from Kagiso Rabada as he throws a thumbs-up at his teammates.

Sri Lanka 112/6 in 17 overs

Fatigue creeping in for Nissanka as he is giving everything in a desperate attempt to up the ante. The opener cannot find the connection, however. Anrich Nortje keeps it tight with his line, but Dasun Shanaka finds a four on the last ball to get 7 runs from the 16th over.

Sri Lanka 101/5 in 16 overs

Given the batting collapse around him, this has been an excellent innings from Nissanka as he reaches his half-century in 46 deliveries. However, he can no longer play the anchor role. With only four overs remaining, it is time to go big or go out.

Sri Lanka 94/5 in 15 overs

4-0-17-3

A brilliant spell from Tabraiz Shamsi comes to an end with a wicket in his final over! He removes Wanindu Hasaranga, who aimed at dispatching a length delivery over the long-off. Good low catch from Markram.

Sri Lanka 92/5 in 14 overs

Pathum Nissanka continues to target Keshav Maharaj, slamming a six off his first delivery. Four further singles from the over fetch 10 runs.

Sri Lanka 89/4 in 13 overs

Sri Lanka are losing the plot here. Another caught-and-bowled for Tabraiz Shamsi as Avishka Fernando gets caught up. A similar flighted delivery which got him the first wicket and Fernando charges down the strike with a push towards on-side but cannot get the pace on the shot. He chips it straight into Shamsi’s hands.

Sri Lanka 79/4 in 12 overs

Sri Lanka batters need to settle. Nissanka and Avishka Fernando survive two run-out chances and an LBW appeal in Keshav Maharaj’s 11th over of the innings.

Sri Lanka 72/3 in 11 overs

Nissanka barely manages to get his foot behind the line as he survives a stumping attempt from Quinton de Kock! Pressure mounting.

Sri Lanka 67/3 in 10 overs

Tabraiz Shamsi strikes! A brilliant caught-and-bowled from the spinner and Rajapaksa departs on a duck! The batter chips a flighted delivery back to Shamsi as the left-handed spinner takes a brilliant diving catch. Trouble brewing for Sri Lanka.

62/3 in 9.2 overs

That’s a gift for South Africa. Asalanka departs! The batter was looking in great touch but a superb fielding effort from Kagiso Rabada at mid-wicket, and an even better glove-work from de Kock ends Asalanka’s innings.

Sri Lanka 61/2 in 9 overs

The World No.1 T20I bowler into the attack and all deliveries bar one pitched on length. A half-hearted LBW appeal on the final delivery as well, but the umpire shakes his head. Only two runs off the over.

Sri Lanka 46/1 in 8 overs

The spinner keeps it tight, conceding five runs in his first over. Onus on both batsmen to rebuild after the early setback.

Sri Lanka 44/1 in 7 overs

Brilliant batting from Charith Asalanka. He takes on the short-pitched delivery from Nortje, dispatching it towards the midwicket before going straight on a fullish one next, sending it past the fielder at mid-off. 

His shots force Nortje to drift away with his length and concede an extra. 13 runs off the over.

Sri Lanka 39/1 in 6 overs

The first six of the innings comes in the fifth over. Nissanka grows out of patience as he slams a juicy half-volley from Rabada for a maximum. The delivery, on middle and leg, is dispatched with authority over deep midwicket.

Sri Lanka 27/1 in 5 overs

BOWLED ‘EM! Nortje gets Perera. The left-handed opener seemed to lose patience after a slow start as he attempts to slam the delivery for a lofted flick. The ball keeps low, however, and Perera completely misses the line. 

SA 20/1 in 4 overs

Well, this looked not out in real time. Perera intended to sweep this delivery towards deep but fails to connect. The point of impact, however, was way outside the off-stump as the Sri Lankan opener survives.

Tight over from Markram as he conceded only 3.

Sri Lanka 17/0 in 3 overs

A lucky four for Nissanka marks Sri Lanka’s first boundary of the innings. A square-cut attempt finds a thick inside edge as the ball races away to fine leg. Kagiso Rabada’s over fetches 9 runs.

Sri Lanka 14/0 in 2 overs

Healthy rotation of strike by both Sri Lankan openers as they take five singles in Markram’s first over.

Sri Lanka 5/0 in 1 over

All the players on the field and in the dugout take the knee as a united stance against racism. Alright then, let’s get started! 

Aiden Markram to bowl the first over.

We are done with the national anthems and the South African players take the field after a group huddle, followed by Sri Lankan openers Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka.

Sri Lanka have won only one game while batting first against South Africa in six T20Is. They lost three, one ended in a tie and the other was abandoned.

Overall, Sri Lanka have beaten South Africa on five occasions in 17 games, losing ten.

Temba Bavuma (South Africa): “The team is feeling much better, de Kock is in a much better state. The first 5 overs will be key for us. We are expecting the pitch to be different here in Sharjah. We are expecting it be a slow and low wicket.”

Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka): “We have played a couple of games, so the ball might keep low. Bowlers and batters have been exposed to this wicket before, so that might be an advantage for us. We have planned after that loss against SA, so hopefully we’ll be able to execute them today. We are playing with the same team.”

Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera(w), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara

South Africa: Temba Bavuma(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has confirmed that Quinton de Kock will return to the playing XI. He replaces Heinrich Klaasen.

South Africa win toss, opt to bowl first against Sri Lanka in Sharjah

“We saw Windies defending 143 in Sharjah yesterday. The bowlers did well and the wicket tended to lay low. It will be even slower today and bowlers should focus on bowling back-of-the-length.” – Daren Sammy

Wide and full should do the trick for bowlers at the death as well.

Both spinners have enjoyed an excellent 2021 so far. Shamsi and Hasaranga have both taken 28 wickets this year in T20Is, so there really is nothing to seperate them!

Tabraiz Shamsi: 19 Matches, 28 wickets
Wanindu Hasaranga: 17 Matches, 28 Wickets

Barring a 72 against Ireland in July earlier this year, Temba Bavuma has registered 5 single-digit scores in his last eight T20Is. The South African captain has scored 14 runs in two games in this edition.

The opener gave away his wicket cheaply on 12 after an aggressive start against Australia in the opener, and was run-out on 2 in the last game.

South Africa are boosted with the arrival of Quinton de Kock, who had made himself unavailable for the game against West Indies. In the next few days ridden with controversy, De Kock finally released his statement clearing his stance on ‘taking a knee’ – an act displaying the players’ united stance against racism.

The wicketkeeper-batter, in 10 innings, has scored 260 runs against Sri Lanka which include two half-centuries.

Hello and welcome to the live blog for 2021 T20 World Cup – Match 25, South Africa vs Sri Lanka from Sharjah. 

South Africa are currently third with two points, while Sri Lanka, with the same number of points, are fourth. Proteas lead due to a higher Net Run Rate.