World Cup 2015 QF 1 Sri Lanka vs South Africa; South Africa into semis, Sri Lanka crumble under pressure

World Cup 2015 QF 1 Sri Lanka vs South Africa; South Africa into semis, Sri Lanka crumble under pressure: The knockout stage of the 2015 World Cup began with Sri Lanka and South Africa playing in the 1^st QF at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Sri Lanka who have made it into the finals of the last 2 editions of the World Cup and are known to be good under pressure and had come off a good showing in the group stages and had one of the best ODI batsman in Sangakkara in tremendous form. South Africa on the other hand, have never it past the first stage of knockout phase. They were coming off a defeat from Pakistan in one of the group matches. Read further to know how did the match shaped up.

Sri Lanka won the toss and Angelo Mathews decided to bat first keeping the possibility of rain later in the day in mind. Sri Lanka made 2 changes bringing in Tharindu Kaushal and Dushmantha Chameera for the crucial game. South Africa went in unchanged, keeping faith in Quinton de Kock.

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South African pacers took advantage of the overhead conditions to remove both the openers Kushal Perera and Tillakaratne Dilshan for just 4 runs in the board. Thirimanne and Sangakkara then started rebuilding the innings, with Sangakkara going into a defensive shell. Both of them added an important 65 runs on the board when South African spinners started to weave their magic. First Thirimanne got out to Imran Tahir and then Mahela Jayawardene followed suit. Captain Mathews tried to push some pace onto the game, but failed, getting out to Duminy. The surprising factor was how slow Sangakkara was playing, defending balls even from JP Duminy.

Duminy completed a very surprise hat-trick his next over picking up Kulasekara and Kaushal on the first 2 balls on his new over, becoming the first South African to pick up a hat-trick. Sri Lanka slipped to 116/8 with that wicket. Imran Tahir then came on to finish the tail picking Malinga as his 4^th wicket. Sangakkara made 45 runs in what became his last ODI match. It was also the last international match for Mahela Jayawardene who had announced his retirement from international cricket prior to the World Cup. Imran Tahir picked up 4/26 and JP Duminy took 3/29 to demolish Sri Lanka for just 133 in 37.2 overs.

South African reply began in aggressive manner with Amla and especially De Kock, who looked in new confidence. Amla was dismissed by Malinga for 14 runs, but the ever dependent Du Plessis (20*) and Quinton de Kock who hit his way back into the form making 78* which included 12 fours. Sri Lankan bowlers had no total on board to fall back on, but still the debutant off spinner Tharindu Kaushal who gave 25 runs in 6 overs.

The result of the match was a forgone conclusion, but De Kock hit the winning runs in form of a boundary off Lasith Malinga. South Africa won their first knock out game in World Cups with 9 wickets in hand.

With the match ended, careers of 2 of the biggest legends of cricket also ended their careers. Mahela Jayawardene retires from cricket altogether while Kumar Sangakkara retires from the ODI format and will play Test cricket for some more time.

Imran Tahir was awarded the Man of the match for his wonderful bowling figures of 4/26.

South Africa will meet the winner of New Zealand and West Indies QF match.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka 133 37.2 overs (K Sangakkara 45, L Thirimanne 41; I Tahir 4/26) lost to South Africa 134/1 (De Kock 78*, Du Plessis 21*; L Malinga 1/43) by 9 wickets and 192 balls remaining.

Records and Trivia:

# This is the first time South Africa have won a knock out game and qualified for the semi-finals of World Cup.

# Imran Tahir, Shahid Afridi, Muralitharan & Shane Warne are the bowler in WC history to take 4 or more wkts in an inns 4 times.

# JP Duminy is the first from SA to take a Hat-trick in World Cup matches & overall 2nd South African after Langeveldt in ODIs.

# This was the 150th ODI match at the SCG – the 2nd ground after Sharjah Cricket Stadium (218) to host 150 or more ODIs.

# This is the shortest knock out match in World Cup history lasting just 55.2 overs.