CWC 2019- SL vs SA Review: Proteas play spoilsport to Lankan semi-final pursuit

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Image Courtesy: Jansatta

South Africa were able to secure a consolation win over Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street. The Proteas were victorious by a comfortable margin while this defeat hit a huge dent in the semi-final pursuit for Sri Lanka. 

Image Courtesy: Jansatta

With a victory over Afghanistan being their lone win in this edition of the World Cup, South Africa were desperate to prove a point after their hopes for a semi-final spot got vanished long back.

South Africa skipper Faf Du Plessis named two changes to the side with JP Duminy and Dwayne Pretorius slotted into the side in place of David Miller and Lungi Ngidi. After electing to bowl first, spearhead Kagiso Rabada wasted no time by scalping the opposition captain Dimuth Karunaratne in the very first ball of the innings.

Dwayne Pretorius took care of the middle order as none of the Lankan batsmen got set in. The spinners got into the action as well with Tahir bowling a tight spell and JP Duminy getting the key wicket of De Silva. A rigid bowling performance helped the Proteas restrict their opposition to just 203.

The Proteas overcame their string of bad starts as all of the top order got to the target all by themselves. Despite Quinton de Kock departing early, Hashim Amla and Faf Du Plessis were involved in a mammoth 175 run unbeaten stand for the second wicket.

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