Chittagong: Opener Kusal Perera made a strokeful 61 before Sri Lankan bowlers produced a brilliant show in the death overs to pull off a thrilling five-run win over South Africa in their World Twenty20 campaign opener here on Saturday.
In the later match, New Zealand started their World T20 campaign on a positive note after beating England by nine runs via Duckworth-Lewis method in a Group 1 league match that was called off following heavy rain and thunder storms.
After restricting England to 172 for six in their stipulated 20 overs, New Zealand were cruising at 52 for one in 5.2 overs when heavens opened up, interrupting the match. With heavy rains unabated, play could not be resumed and the game was abandoned by the umpires.
When rain stopped play, New Zealand were nine runs ahead of England at that stage.
It was skipper Brendon McCullum, who pocketed the win for the Kiwis by blasting two sixes and a four in the fifth over off England captain Stuart Broad to put them ahead before rain interrupted play.
Earlier, after electing to bat, Sri Lanka posted a challenging 165 for seven in 20 overs, riding on a 40-ball 61 by Perera and then restricted South Africa to 160 for eight, thanks to some fine bowling towards the end.
South Africa seemed to be cruising towards the target of 166 as they required 19 runs from the last two overs, but Sri Lankan pacers Nuwan Kulasekara and Lasith Malinga choked the Protea batsmen with their superb bowling. (PTI)
Brief scores SL vs SA:
SL: 165/7, 20 overs (K Perera 61, A Mathews 43; I Tahir 3-26, M Morkel 2-31, D Steyn 2-37)
SA: 160/8, 20 overs (JP Duminy 39; S Senanayake 2-22, A Mathews 1-21)
Brief scores NZ vs Eng:
Eng: 172/6, 20 overs (M Ali 36; C Anderson 2-32)
NZ: 52/1, 5.2 overs (K Williamson 24*; J Dernback 1-13)
