World T20: South Africa Play For Pride Against Sri Lanka
Both South Africa and Sri Lanka have failed to qualify for the semi-finals of World T20 after disappointing performances in the group stages.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: March 27, 2016 03:32 pm IST
Highlights
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Title holders Sri Lanka also suffered two out of three losses.
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South Africa have lost two and won one game in the World T20.
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Angelo Mathews almost won the game for Sri Lanka against England.
Skipper Faf du Plessis said his South African side will try to salvage some national pride against demoralised Sri Lanka in their final World Twenty20 match in New Delhi on Monday. (West Indies Seal Spot in Semis, India and Australia To Fight it Out for Other Spot)
Both teams have failed to qualify for the semi-finals after disappointing performances in the group stages, and will be looking to head home with a win under their belts at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium.
The Proteas' hopes of clinching a first international trophy were dented in their opening game, when England chased down a record 230 runs to win. (West Indies Came Here to Win And Qualify For World T20 Semis, Says Darren Sammy)
They comfortably beat minnows Afghanistan by 37 runs as expected, but lost a thriller when the West Indies successfully chased 123 with just two balls to spare and Sri Lanka's defeat to England on Saturday sealed their fate.
"The difference in getting across the line in big games is when big players step up," du Plessis said of his side which boasts Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn. (World T20: Transition Phase No Excuse For Sri Lanka's Failure, Says Dinesh Chandimal)
"I am a fighter and I know we've got a lot of fighters in our team. We are playing for South Africa, we are wearing the Protea badge."
Title holders Sri Lanka also suffered two out of three losses, further evidence of the team's decline over the last two years, a process accelerated by the retirements of batting stalwarts Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. (England Enter Semi-Finals, Dump Sri Lanka out of World T20)
Sri Lanka were in crisis from the eve of the tournament when their selectors were sacked and veteran injured bowler Lasith Malinga was dropped as skipper for Angelo Mathews.
Sri Lanka opened with a less than convincing win against Afghanistan followed by two straight defeats.
Mathews, who struck a valiant 73 not out in his team's 10-run loss against England on Saturday, admitted the defending champions had failed to live up to expectations.
"It's been a disappointing few months for all of us. We have let down our fans, we let down the whole country. And we haven't played good cricket at all," he said.
Teams:
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (C), Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Rilee Rossouw, David Wiese, Farhaan Behardien, Kyle Abbott, Aaron Phangiso, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Kagiso Rabada, Chris Morris
Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Shehan Jayasuriya, Milinda Siriwardena, Dasun Shanaka, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dushmantha Chameera, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Jeffrey Vandersay