T20 World Cup 2024: South Africa open with win, Sri Lanka fight back despite defeat

South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in one-sided fashion at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Batting first, the Sri Lankan team could score only 77 runs and in reply, South Africa achieved the target in the 17th over. The hero of South Africa's victory was fast bowler Enrique Norkhia who took 4 wickets for just 7 runs in 4 overs.

This decision proved costly for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka captain Wanendu Hasaranga won the toss and elected to bat first and it cost his team dearly. It became difficult for the Sri Lankan batsmen to score runs on the bowling friendly wicket of New York. In the first 10 overs, the Sri Lankan team could score only 40 runs and lost five wickets. The Sri Lankan team could not even play 20 overs and ended the game at 77 runs before 5 balls. New York's innings was so difficult that Sri Lanka hit only 6 boundaries which included 3 fours and 3 sixes.

South Africa also faced difficulties

It is not that South Africa got the target of 78 runs easily. South Africa's attacking batsmen were also seen eager to score runs on the New York pitch. Hendricks was dismissed for just 4 runs. De Kock scored 20 runs but his strike rate was 74. Aidan Markram scored 12 runs. Tristan Stubbs, famous for his violent batting, played an innings of 13 runs in 28 balls. Not a single boundary came from his bat. Heinrich Klaasen scored an unbeaten 19 and along with David Miller eventually led the team to victory. For Sri Lanka, Hasaranga took 2 wickets and Shanaka-Thushara 1 each.