South Africa have started off their T20 World Cup with a key victory against Sri Lanka on a challenging pitch in New York.

There was always going to be an element of surprise with the pitches presented in the US, and things have already gotten off to an eventful start.

Sri Lanka batted first, and a slow start quickly turned pear-shaped when Ottneil Baartman struck on his first delivery, and Keshav Maharaj made two inroads in two deliveries.

Minus a few big shots from Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka, the SL innings was on a hiding to nothing. 

All the Proteas bowlers did their part in building pressure. But it was Anrich Nortje who returned to his destructive best after a long struggle. He claimed his personal-best returns of 4/7 in his allotment.

Sri Lanka’s stuttering batting unit eventually folded for a measly 77, which looked a long way from sufficient. But make no mistake, their bowlers weren’t willing to back out without a fight.

Reeza Hendricks fell in the second over when he edged to slip, and skipper Aiden Markram was the next to go after hitting a maximum.

Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs patiently and sedately navigated through the next six overs, but SL captain Wanindu Hasaranga introduced himself, he got the badly needed breakthrough. A return catch from de Kock made SL briefly believe.

Stubbs was the next to go, but a four and a six from spin-hitting maestro Heinrich Klaasen eased the tension in the white-knuckle chase. The Proteas made it home with just inside 4 overs to go.

Unlike 2021 and 2022, SA have won their first game of the T20WC and have the early momentum to go with it. Several more important games are in store, and that shall be the test of their mettle as the stakes increase.

SL 77 all out in 19.1 overs (Kusal Mendis 19 – Nortje 4-0-7-4, Rabada 4-1-21-2)

SA 80/4 in 16.2 overs (de Kock 20 – Hasaranga 3.2-0-22-2)

📸 Alex Davidson / Getty Images