* Record number of dot balls (126) registered ever in a T20 World Cup match – (Match 4)
By Marlon Dale Ferreira
South Africa’s T20 Men’s Cricket World Cup campaign kicked off with a resounding victory over Sri Lanka, winning by six wickets in a game that set several unwanted batting records on a heavily criticized pitch and also on a rather slowish outfield in New York on Monday.
Sri Lanka’s Struggles
Sri Lanka’s innings was marked by a lack of boundaries, managing only three fours and three sixes in their 115-ball stay at the crease. Their fans, who brought vibrant energy to the otherwise deserted stands, found little to cheer as South Africa cruised to a comfortable win in the first Group D encounter of the T20 World Cup.
Sri Lankan skipper Wanindu Hasaranga’s decision to bat first after winning the toss was perhaps their only victory. The drop-in pitch, designed specifically for the event, proved tricky to navigate, with most captains likely preferring to field first. South African captain Aiden Markram admitted it was a good toss to lose.
South Africa Dominates
The Proteas took control early on, with Heinrich Klaasen catching Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka at third man off the first ball bowled by Ottneil Baartman.
From that moment, South Africa dominated, with Sri Lanka’s top order collapsing and the team struggling to reach 40 runs before losing half their wickets by the halfway mark. Kusal Mendis who in six previous T20 matches against South Africa had amassed just 12 runs, ended up being the top scorer for the islanders when he made 19 off 30 balls faced.
Sri Lanka’s innings saw four batsmen getting out for ducks which also included 72 dot balls and finally ending with their last man being run out in a desperate attempt to take a second run with five balls still left.
Expert Commentary
Commentator Sanjay Manjrekar criticized Sri Lanka for misreading the pitch and failing to adapt, suggesting that converting some of those 72 dot balls into singles could have drastically changed the game’s outcome. Harsha Bhogle also pointed out that the poor pitch and outfield were bad advertisements for cricket in America, emphasizing the sport’s need to catch up with more popular American sports.
Pitch Woes
At the toss, South African captain Aiden Markram compared New York’s Nassau County International Stadium pitch to Adelaide, noting its unpredictable bounce. This inconsistency caused significant issues for Sri Lankan batsmen, who were skittled out for just 77 runs.
Anrich Nortje led South Africa’s bowling attack, showcasing a remarkable comeback from a difficult IPL season. He and Keshav Maharaj dismantled Sri Lanka’s batting lineup, with Nortje finishing with his best T20 World Cup figures of 4-0-7-4. Nortje’s figures set a T20 World Cup record for the most economical spell (1.75 runs per over) ever bowled and also the best figures bowled by a South African in T20 World Cup history.
South Africa’s Chase
Chasing a modest target of 78, South African batters played cautiously, eventually reaching the target in 16.2 overs but losing four wickets along the way. Their innings too constituted 52 dot balls and along with Sri Lanka’s 74 in their innings also set another unwanted batting record for the most number of dot balls 126 faced in a T20 World Cup match. The conditions made batting challenging for both teams, reflected in the match’s low scoring rate, which incidentally was another T20 World Cup record for the lowest batting average of 4.42 runs per over in a completed match.
Looking Ahead
With seven more league matches, including three involving India, to be played in New York, the International Cricket Council (ICC) will be closely monitoring the pitch conditions. The debut of New York as a cricket venue has highlighted the challenges of drop-in pitches and the need for better preparation to ensure a more balanced contest. The empty stands appeared to be a concern too.
South Africa’s clinical performance and the challenging pitch conditions set the stage for a World Cup filled with intrigue and unexpected twists.
Chief Scores
Sri Lanka 77 all out in 19.1 overs (Kusal Mendis 19, Angelo Mathews 16, Andrich Nortje 4 for 7, Kagiso Rabada 2 for 21, Keshav Maharaj 2 for 22)
South Africa 80 for 4 in 16.2 overs ( Quinton De Kock 20, Heinrich Klaarsen 19 not out, Wanindu Hasaranga 2 for 22)
Player of the Match – Anrich Nortje
