(Image source from: SL vs SA)

The first Quarter Final match between South Africa and Sri Lanka is sending different message to the six teams, which have to play the remaining Quarter Finals. The battle is not an easy thing for any team.

Sri Lanka won the toss and chosen to bat first in the day and night match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, but both the openers Kushal Janith Perera (3) and Tilakaratne Dilshan (0) went back to the pavilion just minutes after the match commenced. The batting sensation of the World Cup edition 2015 Sangakkara (45 in 96 balls) tried to stabilize the match with defensive batting, and Lahiru Thirimanne (41 in 48 balls) also contributed the team to settle well on the ground.

After the exit of Jayawardane at 81/4, the team started collapsing. Though the powerful batsman Kumar Sangakkara stayed on the crease till 9th wicket, the teammates have not extended their support. At the end the Sri Lanka lost last 5 wickets in just 5 overs and 18 runs.

In reply to the pity 134 runs of target South Africa have started the innings at higher pace, and scored 40 runs in 6.4 overs, but the opener Hashim Amla sent back to dressing room by Lasith Malinga. The safaris scored 60 runs in first 10 overs with a loss of one wicket.

The batsmen Quinton de Kock (78*) and Faf du Plessis (21*) have finished the game in just 18 overs, and 9 wickets in hand. Interestingly du Plessis has not beaten any boundaries in his innings.

 -Kannamsai