De Villiers makes the difference

A clinical performance from South Africa saw them beat Sri Lanka by 32 runs in a rain-curtailed Group C match of the Twenty20 World Cup at Hambantota on Saturday.

Heavy rain reduced the contest to seven overs a side and South Africa,put in to bat first,ran up an impressive total of 78 for four wickets. Skipper AB de Villiers played a great hand to score 30 off just 13 balls and JP Duminy provided the finishing touches with a four and a six off the last two deliveries of the innings. The hosts felt they had the game under control when they picked up both South Africa openers within the first three overs with 27 runs on the board but de Villiers turned the game around with a cameo.

Sri Lankas chase was made even more difficult when flamboyant opener Tillakaratne Dilshan was run out without facing a ball.

Brief Scores: South Africa: 78 for four in 7 ovs De Villiers 30; N Kulasekara 1/9 bt Sri Lanka: 46 for five in 7 ovs K Sangakkara 13;Dale Steyn 2/10.