Sydney: South Africa crushed Sri Lanka in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Quarter-Final to break their dubious long-standing record of never having won a World Cup knockout match.
Imran Tahir and JP Duminy snared seven wickets between them — which included a hat-trick from Duminy — as South Africa were left with just 134 to chase. Quinton de Kock then scored a superb unbeaten 78, as South Africa won by nine wickets with 32 overs to spare — another World Cup record
Sri Lanka managed to take the wicket of Hashim Amla, but with 40 already on the board it was too little too late. Quinton de Kock chose the perfect opportunity to get back into form, scoring a breakneck 50 off 39 balls to ensure that South Africa sailed through to the semi-final.
Along with Faf du Plessis, de Kock knocked off the remaining runs with consummate ease. Sri Lankan “mystery spinner” Tharindu Kaushal bowled well but did not ask any pertinent questions, while the rest of the bowling seemed too downcast to put in an extra effort.
In one of the most lop-sided quarter-finals in the history of cricket World Cup, South Africa beat Sri Lanka by nine wickets to book a berth in the semis. And with that they break their World Cup knockout jinx as well.
Bureau Report
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