South Africa managed to shake the most unlikeliest monkey off their backs by finally winning a knockout game at a Cricket World Cup and in the process resigning two off the modern greats to an early plane ride home.
The word choke was used on more than a few occasion in the lead up to the first Cricket World Cup quarterfinal of 2015, and it could have been used afterwards too, just not in the manner that many predicted. The Heimlich manoeuvre was needed, but on the Sri Lanka batsman not the South African team, after Dale Steyn, Kyle Abbot, Morne Morkel, JP Duminy and Imran Tahir choked the life out of the Sri Lankan batsman and restricted them to just 134. Bowled out in the 38th over; a total that was never going to be enough, and ultimately costing Sri Lanka their place in the tournament as Quinton de Kock rediscovered some form to see South Africa home by 9 wickets.
The loss is a sad way to farewell two exceptionally gifted cricketers and gentlemen of the game. Kumar Sangakkar and Mahela Jayawardene played their final international matches in the defeat, leaving an enduring legacy on Sri Lankan and world cricket. A partnership of two more elegant batsman will never be seen in the game.
Unfortunately the Sydney crowd, made up of predominantly Sri Lankan fans, didn’t see any partnerships of note, let alone one from their departing idols. Kyle Abbot struck in the first over and South Africa didn’t look back. Abbot removed the experimental opener, Kusal Perera – who bizarrely replaced Lahiru Thirimanne the incumbent opener who had made 261 runs in the top of the order in the tournament already – and when Steyn got Dilshan in the fifth over the writing was on the wall.
Sangakkara couldn’t find his record-creaking lead up form, instead scratching around for 6 off 42 balls at one stage in the face of accurate bowling from all of the South African bowlers. The pressure told on all. Thirimanne looked the best of the batsman and threatened to help Sangakkara out of his deep hole, but when he became the first of seven wickets to fall to spin the wheels came off and Sri Lanka were bowled out for the second lowest quarterfinal total in World Cup history. Sangakkara was ninth man out for 45, taking his World Cup total to 541.
South Africa commenced the chase prior to the Dinner break. They lost a wicket in that time, Amla falling to Malinga, but also ticked off 40 of the required runs. Post break, de Kock dismantled the short pitched bowling plan and played himself into some much needed form. He ended on 78* and justified the decision by the selectors to preserve with him at the top of the order (he had earlier taken two good catches with the gloves too).
The confidence of AB de Villers in the news conferences prior to the match was infectious and his public support of his beleaguered keeper-batsman has obviously done wonders for the individual and the team. They have sent a real statement of intent to their fellow semifinalists, all of whom have much easier games to make it there.
South Africa 134 for 1 (de Kock 78*) beat Sri Lanka 133 (Sangakkara 45, Tahir 4-26, Duminy 3-29) by 9 wickets
