South Africa squeeze past Sri Lanka by one wicket in nail-biter
Malinga grabs helmet-trick as Providence Stadium makes historic debut
By Sean Devers
Kaieteur News
March 29, 2007
For the 5,220 fans that turned up at the brand new Guyana National Cricket Stadium at Providence yesterday, it was a day to remember as fiery 23-year-old Lasith Malinga took the first helmet trick in International cricket and became only the second Sri Lankan and fifth bowler to snatch three wickets off consecutive balls in a Cricket World Cup encounter.
But the remarkable feat was in a losing cause as an edged Robin Peterson boundary sealed a dramatic one-wicket win for South Africa with 1.4 overs remaining in their Super Eight match-up.
Malinga, who finished with 4-54 from 9.2 overs, removed Shaun Pollock (13) and Andrew Hall (0) with the last two ball of the 45th over. He then sent back top scorer Jaques Kallis (86) and Makhaya Ntini (0) with the first two of the 47th over as ODI's top ranked team toppled from 206-5 to 207-9; still four runs away from victory.
South Africa just squeezed home to claim two important points to join Sri Lanka who brought two points into the second phase after winning group B in Trinidad .
Spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan, was also on a hattrick and supported Malinga with 3-34 from 10 overs in a losing effort.
A responsible 86 from 31-year-old Kallis was the foundation for South Africa's exhilarating victory after man-of-the-match Charl Langeveldt took a career best 5-39 as Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets for 14 runs and their last three for just a single in reaching 209 all out off 493 overs. South Africa struggled to 212-9 in 48.2 overs.
Sri Lanka elected to bat in overcast conditions and lost their first wicket with the score on 13 when Upul Tharanga (12) edged a catch to first slip off Makhaya Ntini.
The virgin pitch, although slow, passed its first test and appeared similar to those on the sub continent while despite obvious uncompleted areas outside the venue, the stands and ground presented a beautiful picture as the region's newest venue made an auspicious World Cup debut.
The 32-year-old Langeveldt replaced Shun Pollock who conceded 32 runs in his first four overs including consecutive off-side boundaries from Sanath Jayasuriya.
The move paid almost immediate dividends when Langeveldt induced the dangerous Jayasuriya to hit a catch to cover to leave the 1996 champions on 45-2. Jayasuriya's 27-ball 26 was decorated with four boundaries on a lush green outfield which remained in very good condition despite being battered by heavy rain over the last week and proved that talk of the venue's excellent drainage system was no idle boast.
Langevelt struck again when skipper Mahela Jayawardena (12) popped an easy catch to AB de Villiers at cover as Sri Lanka slipped to 65-3. Kumar Sangakkara stroked four fours in 28 before gloving a pull at a short ball from Hall for keeper Mark Boucher to hold a brilliant diving leg-side catch to leave the score on 90-4.
In the fourth World Cup game between the two sides, including the tied 2003 CWC clash which knocked the host out o the event, the Africans struck again at 98-5 when the in-form Chamara Silva (9) was run out by Herschelle Gibbs for his first score below fifty in the competition.
With the sun now out in all of its brilliance, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Russel Arnold played responsibly in a 97-run sixth wicket partnership from 21 overs with Dilshan reaching his 9th half-century from 67 balls with three fours before he was taken at third man at 195-6. He hit four boundaries from 76 balls in his 58.
Arnold reached his 28th half-century off 71 balls with two fours before Langeveldt grabbed three wickets in an eventful penultimate over as Sri Lanka lost their way trying to step up the tempo. Arnold top edged a slog sweep for the keeper to pouch the skier, Ferveez Maharoof (5) lofted a catch to deep extra cover and Chiminda Vass (0) skied a catch to long-on as three wickets tumbled for no run.
Muralitharan (1) was then run out in the final over as his team slumped from 195-5. Ntini supported with 2-26.
Vass struck in the first over in South Africa 's reply when de Villiers was bowled for a duck (1-1). The powerful Smith played some delightful shots and reached his 26th half-century with a thumping straight drive off Lasith Malinga with his sixth four and then celebrated with another boundary off the next ball. He was then caught behind at 95-2 as off-spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan was introduced in the 15th over. His 59 lasted 65 balls and included seven fours and a six.
Gibbs joined Kallis who soon reached his 60th half-century as South Africa consolidated their position as the pair added 65 for the third wicket. Muralitharan had Gibbs (31) caught and bowled and trapped Boucher lbw for a duck next ball, as the Africans slipped to 160-4 while Justin Kemp (5) was stumped off Jayasuriya 22 runs later to keep Sri Lanka in the contest.
Malinga's record breaking feat then just failed to prevent the South African victory as the game climaxed in scintillating fashion.
Maharoof returned for Sri Lanka after an ankle injury forced him out of the match against India to replace Dilhara Fernando while South Africa omitted batsman Ashwell Prince for the left-arm spin of Peterson from the side that lost to Australia .
Sri Lanka 's next match is against host West Indies on April 1 while South Africa face Ireland on Tuesday in their next encounter as the Guyana leg of the Super Eight stage continues.