The Hindu : Sport : South Africa prevails in a thrilling contest

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South Africa prevails in a thrilling contest

GEORGETOWN (Guyana): South Africa eked out a one-wicket win over Sri Lanka despite Lasith Malinga's unprecedented four wickets in four balls late in Wednesday's World Cup Super Eight match.

The South Africans had Jacques Kallis at the crease and were one stroke from victory at 206 for five, chasing Sri Lanka's modest 209 before Malinga struck.

The Sri Lankan became the first bowler to take four wickets off consecutive balls in an ODI.

``That was a pretty stressful last five overs, geez!'' South Africa captain Graeme Smith said. ``We knew it was going to be a difficult chase — we were dominant for 95 overs ...at the end, we're happy to get away with that.''

Malinga removed Shaun Pollock (13) and Andrew Hall (0) off the last two balls of his eighth over — the 45th — and Jacques Kallis (86) caught behind and Makhaya Ntini bowled from the first two balls of his ninth.

That left South Africa needing three runs from 21 balls.

Winning runs

Robin Peterson edged Malinga for four down to third man to take South Africa to 212 for nine with 10 balls to spare. Peterson jumped jubilantly as he ran down the pitch in celebration and then smashed the stumps at the non-striker's end with his bat.

``It was a good opportunity to win the game — we needed only one more wicket. I bowled the next ball to take a wicket — but missed,'' Malinga said. ``I'm just happy to take my first international hat-trick.''

Malinga returned four for 54 from 9.2 overs and Muttiah Muralitharan, who had a loud shout for a hat-trick turned down earlier in the innings, finished with three for 34.

``It's nice to get through with two points. Sri Lanka is going to be a tough one to beat in this tournament,'' Smith said.

It was a tie against Sri Lanka in the match of the group stage in the last World Cup that cost South Africa a place in the second round.

Another tie against Australia in the 1999 semifinal cost the South Africans a place in the final.

``In World Cups gone by, we've probably lost those close games,'' Smith said. ``This is probably the turn around we need.''

The win ensured that South Africa would keep the top spot in the season-ending international limited-overs rankings, regardless of results of other matches at the World Cup.

A loss could have cost South Africa the top ranking, a week after losing to Australia in a pivotal Group `A' match.

Below par show

After three big wins in the group stage, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said his team played well below par against South Africa.

``This was definitely a game for us to win, but the way we played we never had a chance of winning except for that last burst from Malinga,'' Jayawardene said. ``The good thing is, we know exactly where we have to improve.''

Kallis, who came after AB de Villiers was bowled by Chaminda Vaas in the first over, made 86 off 110 balls and shared a 94-run stand with Smith (59) that set up South Africa's chase.

Muralitharan caused a wobble in the middle when he dismissed Herschelle Gibbs (31) and Mark Boucher off consecutive deliveries to make it 160 for four.

The off-spinner missed a hat-trick when his next ball just missed the edge and bounced off Justin Kemp's pad into the hands of a close-in fielder.

Langeveldt's best

Earlier, Charl Langeveldt did the damage with a career-best five for 39 to restrict the Sri Lankans to their lowest total at this World Cup.

Langeveldt took three wickets in his last over as Sri Lanka lost its last four wickets for one run in seven balls. He'll start South Africa's next match on a hat-trick. Ntini had Upul Tharanga (12) caught at slip with the total at 13. However, Sanath Jayasuriya, who took a liking to Pollock's bowling, made 26 off 27 balls before he was undone by a change in the attack.

Langeveldt replaced Pollock and removed Jayasuriya and Jayawardene (12), both misjudging the pace as Sri Lanka slumped to 65 for three.

Sangakkara (28) gloved a catch off Hall to Boucher down the legside before Sri Lanka lost its fifth wicket when Gibbs ran out Chamara Silva for nine.

Brilliant run out

Picking the ball up in his right hand from close in, Gibbs raced a few paces and then lunged to knock down two stumps in a scene reminiscent of Jonty Rhodes' famous effort against Pakistan in the 1992 World Cup.

Tillekaratne Dilshan (58) and Russel Arnold (50) then added 97 runs for the sixth wicket to repair the damage caused by Ntini and Langeveldt. — AP

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka: U. Tharanga c Kemp b Ntini 12, S. Jayasuriya c Kallis b Langeveldt 26, M. Jayawardene c de Villiers b Langeveldt 12, K. Sangakkara c Boucher b Hall 28, C. Silva (run out) 9, T. Dilshan c Kemp b Ntini 58, R. Arnold c Boucher b Langevelt 50, F. Maharoof c Ntini b Langeveldt 5, L. Malinga (not out) 0, C. Vaas c Gibbs b Langeveldt 0, M. Muralitharan (run out) 1; Extras (lb-3, w-4, nb-1): 8; Total (in 49.3 overs): 209.

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-45, 3-65, 4-90, 5-98, 6-195, 7-208, 8-208, 9-208.

South Africa bowling: Pollock 8-0-46-0, Ntini 8-0-26-2, Langeveldt 10-1-39-5, Hall 9.3-0-33-1, Kallis 6-0-24-0, Peterson 5-0-22-0, Smith 3-0-16-0.

South Africa: G. Smith st.Sangakkara b Muralitharan 59,AB de Villiers b Vaas 0, J. Kallis c Sangakkara b Malinga 86, H. Gibbs c & b Muralitharan 31, M. Boucher lbw b Muralitharan 0, J. Kemp st. Sangakkara b Jayasuriya 5, S. Pollock b Malinga 13, A. Hall c Tharanga b Malinga 0, R. Peterson (not out) 4, M. Ntini b Malinga 0, C. Langeveldt (not out) 1; Extras: (b-5, lb-4, w-3, nb-1): 13; Total (for nine wkts. in 48.2 overs): 212.

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-95, 3-160, 4-160, 5-182, 6-206, 7-206,8-207, 9-207.

Sri Lanka bowling: Vaas 10-1-31-1, Malinga 9.2-0-54-4, Maharoof 7-0-41-0, Muralitharan 10-0-34-3, Jayasuriya 10-0-34-1, Dilshan 2-0-9-0.

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