Sri Lanka claim opening win

Sri Lanka have recorded a five-run victory over South Africa in their opening Super 10 match at the 2014 World T20 tournament in Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka have recorded a five-run victory over South Africa in their opening Super 10 match at the 2014 World T20 tournament in Bangladesh.

The South Africans seemed to have the match won until a couple of late wickets, and some excellent death bowling, curtailed the Proteas effort as they fell narrowly short of Sri Lanka's 165/7, finishing on 160/8.

All the Proteas batsmen got starts, with Quinton de Kock (25), Hashim Amla (23), JP Duminy (39), AB De Villiers (24) and David Miller (19) added vital runs.

The key wicket was that of Albie Morkel (12) though, who, after dispatching Ajantha Mendis for consecutive sixes, was caught on the fence trying to repeat the feat a third time.

Farhaan Behardien (five) and Dale Steyn (naught) were the last to go but by then the proverbial fat lady had already sung.

Sachithra Senanayake was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/22, while Nuwan Kulesekara (2/23) and Angelo Matthews (2/21) also contributed.

Earlier, Sri Lanka posted a score of 165/7 after winning the toss and opting to bat first.

Kusal Perera (61) got islanders off to a flyer when he took 17 off Steyn's first over, before the South African bowler responded by castling fellow opener Tillekeratne Dilshan for a first ball duck.

Mahela Jayawerdene (nine) mishit a drive off Morkel and was caught at mid-on and Kumar Sangakkara (14) played an ugly shot off Imran Tahir and was caught by Lonwabo Tsotsobe diving forward at short third man.

Kusal became Tahir's second victim shortly after, caught by De Villiers inside the circle, before Matthews (43) progressed Sri Lanka's score further.

He too was bowled by Steyn, but not before adding vital runs with Dinesh Chandimal (12) and Thisara Perera (eight).

Tahir was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/26 in his four overs, while Morkel finished with 2/31.

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