South Africa’s Anrich Nortje on Monday took a remarkable four wickets for just seven runs as the Proteas dismissed Sri Lanka for a record low 77 on their way to a six-wicket win in the teams’ T20 World Cup opener in New York, while Afghanistan produced a dominant bowling and batting performance to thrash debutants Uganda by 125 runs in Guyana.
Sri Lanka’s total was their lowest in all T20 cricket, with fast bowler Nortje’s figures the best by a South African at a T20 World Cup, surpassing his own 4-10 against Bangladesh in Sydney two years ago.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had those figures,” said Nortje, the player of the match, at the presentation ceremony. “Just happy to have pulled it off for the team.”
Photo: AP
“We didn’t know what to expect from the pitch, we’d heard one or two rumors about being up and down,” the 30-year-old added.
Kagiso Rabada (2-21) and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who took two wickets in two balls on his way to 2-22, also damaged the cause of 2014 champions Sri Lanka.
Opener Kusal Mendis (19) and veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews (16) were the only Sri Lanka batsmen to pass 15 after their captain, Wanindu Hasaranga, seemingly misread conditions by opting to bat first upon winning the toss.
In Georgetown, Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran laid the foundations for the win with an opening stand of 154 in Afghanistan’s 183-5.
Left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi dazzled with five wickets for just nine runs as Uganda were skittled for 58 in 16 overs.
“It was the kind of start we wanted as a team,” Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan said. “It does not matter who we play, it is about the mindset. The hard work we have done in the last few weeks, the way the openers started and the way our bowlers bowled — it was a great overall team effort.”
Afghanistan had looked poised for a massive total after Gurbaz’s 76 off 45 balls which included four fours and four sixes.
Zadran was in similarly swashbuckling form, blasting 70 off 46 deliveries including nine fours and a six.
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