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Key events
13th over: Sri Lanka 53-6 (Mathews 8, Shanaka 1) After taking a few balls to get his eye in, Mathews bowled a classic straight six by Maharaj. Seven from the over so Maharaj finishes with figures of 4-0-22-2.
“I couldn’t make up my mind what exactly I was watching a little earlier – whether the Adelaide game was a two-step; was Sri Lanka’s batting terrible; the South African bowling was outstanding,” says Brian Whittington. “Imagine my delight to discover that there is a Guardian OBO to shed light on the proceedings. Quickly scrolling back, I found my pitch question duly asked (over 6) … and gave up! What’s up Rob?’
I think the pitch scared Sri Lanka a bit and that 140 would be a really tough target. However, South Africa were frighteningly good.
12th over: Sri Lanka 46-6 (Mathews 2, Shanaka 1) In the recent IPL, Nortje scored 13.36 runs per over and claimed seven wickets in six games. Today he has figures 3-0-6-3.
VARITKA! Sri Lanka 45-6 (Asalanka c Hendricks b Nortje 6)
Asalanka bowls Nortje straight to deep backward square where Hendricks takes his second catch of the day to give Nortje his third wicket. Heyyy
11th over: Sri Lanka 44-5 (Asalanka 6, Mathews 1) Asalanka survives a review after being sent back by Mathews – He would have been gone with a direct hit – and then runs past Maharaj. Sri Lanka will do well if they reach three figures at this rate.
“It seems very difficult to judge who is a good scorer on these pitches,” says Ramesh Natarajan. “Also, The Spin seems the perfect name for the Guardian WT20 2024 newsletter.”
It took over 20 years, but we finally got there.
Drinks break
“Big pitch, sandy outfield,” says Prashant Sampath. “It won’t be easy to get fours, but we have to put the twos and threes.”
There will be some interesting games on this ground; you can imagine Virat Kohli scoring a bunch of doubles. I wonder if Sri Lanka would have played first if they had the time again.
VARITKA! Sri Lanka 40-5 (Kusal c Stubbs b Nortje 19)
Mistake by Kusal off Nortje lands safely. He has hardly brokered anything, but he is still there, and while that is the case, South Africa will not be entirely comfortable in the box. At his best, Kusal can take anyone to the cleaners – as South Africa know from his spectacular 42-ball World Cup 76 over 50.
Today, alas, he will have to settle for a 30-ball 19. He hooks the last ball before the drinks break to deep backward square where Tristan Stubbs takes a really well-judged catch. South Africa went wild!
9th over: Sri Lanka 36-4 (Kusal 16, Asalanka 3) Asselanka survived the hat trick ball.
VARITKA! Sri Lanka 32-4 (Sadeera b Maharaj 0)
Keshav Maharaj has a hat trick! Sadeera Samawickrama is dropped on the first ball, beaten on the inside by a lovely delivery that rises to hit the stumps. Sri Lanka are in a heap.
VARITKA! Sri Lanka 32-3 (Hasaranga st de Kock b Maharaj 0)
It turns into a debacle. Captain Hasaranga tries to make something happen by attacking Maharaj but he moves on the ball and is tripped by de Kock.
8th over: Sri Lanka 31-2 (Kusal 14, Hasaranga 0) Nortje had a pretty miserable IPL but not many pitches like this in India.
VARITKA! Sri Lanka 31-2 (Kamindu c Hendricks b Nortje 11)
Henrich Nortier, the fastest of the South African bowlers, strikes in his first over. He had already beaten Kusal Mendis with three runs when Kamindu Mendis’ shot went straight to deep square. South Africa bullied Sri Lanka and it is extremely impressive.
7th over: Sri Lanka 30-1 (Kusal 13, Kamindu 11) Time for left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj. Kamindu’s reverse sweeps confidently for two but Kusal continues to struggle with his timing. Six over: four singles and that two.
“I have a sense of déjà vu,” says Vinod Ganesh. “Adelaide 2022, against the Netherlands. A similar step. Sun 150+. SA could not pursue him.
6th over: Sri Lanka 24-1 (Kusal 11, Kamindu 7) Kamindu rattles for a single off Baartman. It’s one of many errant shots, so perhaps the pitch is a little two-sided. As if I would know!
Kusal is beaten by back-to-back leg cutters from the impressive Baartman, then survives a big LBW appeal for pushing a big knife that would have bounced through the stumps. This feels like a Test match, not a T20. Kusal decides he has to do something and runs down the track to blast Baartman’s last ball into mid-game for deuce. He didn’t really find time and the fielder was interested for a while but he had had enough.
22 members of the print/web media in the gleaming new media center for the start of the match between South Africa and Sri Lanka in Nassau County. They even sent ABC 7 Eyewitness News pic.twitter.com/KQm75CZbGJ
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) June 3, 2024
5th over: Sri Lanka 21-1 (Kusal 9, Kamindu 6) Left-handed Kamindu is beaten by an off-swinger from Rabada, who switched sides to replace Jansen, but then he lofts beautifully over square leg for four with one bounce. That would be six on most grounds.
It is important that Sri Lanka hold their nerve and not push too hard for an unrealistic result. Even something like 130 can be competitive here; we don’t know what he will do for the spinners.
4th over: Sri Lanka 14-1 (Kusal 8, Kamindu 0) Obviously, Baartman is the first South African to take a wicket with his first ball at a World Cup, but Alan Donald may object.
This is an amazing first over from Baartman, a maiden wicket in fact. The only run was a bye.
VARITKA! Sri Lanka 13-1 (Nissanka c Klaasen b Baartman 3)
Otneil Baartman strikes with his first World Cup ball! Nissanka cut the length of the delivery all the way to third man where Heinrich Klaassen ducked to take an easy catch.
3rd over: Sri Lanka 13-0 (Nisanka 3, Kusal 8) The Sri Lankan openers seem slightly wary of the pitch, which is brand new by the way. Kusal fiddles to Jansen and is beaten, then splashes a cover for two. The big pitch and slow outfield are not in favor of the batsmen, so the nominal score may be lower than we think.
2nd over: Sri Lanka 9-0 (Nisanka 2, Kusal 6) Kusal Mendis used the extra bounce to uppercut Rabada’s first ball for four. He was beaten twice later in the over, one from each side of the bat. It’s a strong start from South Africa.
1st over: Sri Lanka 2-0 (Nisanka 1, Kusal 1) Left-hander Marco Jansen got off to a really good start, allowing just two runs and beating Nissanka with back-to-back deliveries. The second was a jaffa that burst from a length and the early signs are that the pitch has enough for the fast bowlers.
Outside the ballpark in Nassau County, they turned the entrances into a militarized zone. I have never seen so much security and police for any sporting event in the New York metro area. Get here 2 or 3 hours early if you are a fan or media.
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) June 3, 2024
The depth of South Africa’s fast bowling is such that Lungi Ngidi did not make the squad. They have four quicks today, including 31-year-old Otneyl Baartman, who was called up after a superb SA20. This is only his second match for South Africa.
The teams
Sri Lanka Nissanka, Kusal (wk), Kamindu, Sadeera, Asalanka, Mathews, Shanaka, Hasaranga (c), Theekshana, Pathirana, Suchhara.
South Africa de Kock (wk), Hendricks, Markram (c), Klaassen, Miller, Stubbs, Jansen, Maharaj, Rabada, Northier, Baartman.
Sri Lanka win the toss
Ravi Shastri conducts the draw in New York, which is perhaps the pinnacle of human existence. South Africa captain Aidan Markram fouled out so Sri Lanka won the toss. Wanindu Hasaranga says they will bat first; no surprise given that he is one of four spinners, full-time and part-time, in their XI.
Markram says South Africa would bowl so everyone is happy.
Today’s match will be played on a pitch that came into being in Adelaide. Simon Burnton has more.
Preamble
Start spreading the news, there is cricket today. Nassau County Intl Cricket The Long Island Stadium is the venue for Sri Lanka against South Africa, an intriguing match in an open group that also includes Bangladesh, Nepal – and the Netherlands, who have beaten South Africa in the last two white-ball World Cups.
South Africa are potential winners, with a punishing, never-say-die middle order to hide from, but the past is not over with them. Nor will it be until they finally win a World Cup.
Sri Lanka have the talent, personality and variety, especially in their bowling, to cause bigger teams problems, whether in the group stages or during the Super Eights. Should be a great match. And even if it isn’t, it’s in New York, which is a story in itself.
The match starts at 15.30 BST10.30am in New York.
It’s truly amazing how this beautiful stadium in Eisenhower Park, New York was built in just over 3 months! Work on the site began in January, and construction activities did not begin until mid-February.
The stadium is made mostly of steel and aluminum. Entry grounds have… pic.twitter.com/HCYLshchCL
— Rajnish Gupta (@rgcricket) June 3, 2024
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