Sri Lanka vs South Africa, Match 35 - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

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Faf du Plessis | Winning skipper: Long time coming, yeah. It was a good game and we did ourself justice in all three departments for the talent we have in the dressing room. We've been trying to get Pretorius in but the combinations were really tough, so today he came in place of Lungi and did a very, very good job. We didn't start well once again. The nature of the wicket told me that we needed to bowl straight lines, a consistent top-of-off lines. It looked like the kind of wicket that would be tough with consistent lines and length and that is why I brought Andelie on early. It feels bitter-sweet, it doesn't feel like it means that much. It's a little bit too late. The basics of batting were shown today. We've batted well all through the tournament, but we just didn't have guys batting through. Hashim gave us a good foundation, myself and one big partnership makes it look so much easier. We hadn't done that consistently in the tournament. I think Bangladesh was the one that really took the wind out of our sails. England are a very good team and they were too good for us on that day. Bangladesh played an unbelievably good game and that sucker punched us and we almost took the hangover of that game into the next game. The first week really put us back, but we knew that was the case and we can't hide from that.

Dimuth Karunaratne | Losing skipper: I think all departments went wrong. In the batting, Kusal and Avishka batted really well, but we just weren't able to rotate the strike and get singles. That is the key here and when you don't get singles you only go for big shots. Unfortunately, we had only 200 on the board and the wicket was getting better and better after which they batted really well. I felt the wicket was a bit slow, they bowled really well and their fielders in the ring kept the pressure on. They planned really well. We couldn't get the singles and kept looking for big shots. We needed to get early wickets. Malinga started really well, but we couldn't build any pressure from the other end and nobody could get wickets. We have to learn how to build pressure on the batsmen in these kind of tournaments. We need to learn how to get batsmen to make mistakes. We have two matches and we have to beat West Indies and India in both matches. They are tough sides and we have to compete well with them. We have to work hard in all three departments and we would be trying to do well in both matches.

Dwaine Pretorius, Man of the Match: I am happy that we got over the line today and glad that I could play a part in that. (How he prepares when on the bench) Try and work as hard as possible. At the end of the day, I am happy that I was ready for the opportunity and glad that I was able to contribute. I think me and Faf spoke after my third over, we just realised that hitting the top of the off is a good idea on this pitch. Glad that I was able to execute it. Guys are stoked over there, we showed today what we're all about. Just sad that it came only now.

Du Plessis, Amla pilot South Africa to consolation win

Du Plessis and Amla duly provided the finishing touches, with the former hitting the winning runs. However, he missed out on a well-deserved ton by just four runs.

Clinical victory for South Africa as the bowlers too bowled well in tandem. Unfortunately, for them the tournament is over. What about Sri Lanka then? There was a window of opportunity after upsetting England, but after a morale-sapping defeat, they are back in that long dark tunnel, exploring the escape route. It was a lacklustre show on a tricky surface.

South Africa in cruise control

Du Plessis followed in Amla's footsteps by completing his fifty. Measured innings, ,but unfortunately for South Africa, it has come a tad too late in the tournament. After reaching the milestone, he also waltzed down the track to send the ball into the downtown territories. The duo has also stitched a century stand.

On an interesting note, Malinga has bowled 36 yorkers in the tournament so far!

Amla putting on anexhibition

Drives, flicks and cuts - Amla showing to his critics that he still has it in him to score runs. He looks in fine touch. Meanwhile, du Plessis has employed his feet to good effect to crack a couple of fours. South Africa on their way to chase down this paltry score.

Soon Amla also composed a welcome fifty.

Timber shattered

For a while, it seemed as if South Africa were motoring along. De Kock and Amla crunching a slew of boundaries. However, against the run of play, de Kock attempted to slog Malinga but could only hear the death rattle. De Kock is the kind of batsman who looks to hit through the line most of the times. Not easy on this track.