South African left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj took back-to-back wickets in the ninth over of the innings during the 2024 T20 World Cup match against Sri Lanka. The game is taking place at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Monday, June 3.
The Proteas dominated Wanindu Hasaranga and his team after opting to bowl first. The powerplay yielded just 24 runs, forcing them to accelerate in the middle overs. However, this effort backfired, leading to a flurry of wickets, with Maharaj playing a crucial role in their collapse.
The left-arm spinner entered the attack right after the powerplay, giving away only six runs in his first over. Returning for his second over, Wanindu Hasaranga, who promoted himself to No. 4 for a potential impact, attempted to attack Maharaj but was stumped for a two-ball duck.
Maharaj struck again on the very next ball, dismissing Sadeera Samarawickrama. The right-handed batter attempted a cut shot with little room to maneuver and ended up chopping it onto his stumps. This double strike left Sri Lanka struggling at 32-4 in the ninth over.
W.Hasaranga 👆🏻
S.Samarawickrama ✌🏻With #KeshavMaharaj taking wickets in successive deliveries, South Africa are placed firmly in the driver's seat! 🤜🏻🤛🏻#SLvSA | LIVE NOW | #T20WorldCupOnStar (Only available in India) pic.twitter.com/Ldd4N4f6g0
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 3, 2024
At the halfway point of the innings, Sri Lanka was at 40/5, marking their lowest 10-over score in T20 history. Maharaj completed his four overs, ending with figures of 2/22.
Sri Lanka braces for a dismal total as wickets keep tumbling
The subcontinent team appears utterly disoriented in their World Cup opener after choosing to bat on an unfamiliar surface. Sri Lanka’s decline continued as Anrich Nortje took his third wicket, reducing them to 45/6 in the 12th over.
Their final batting pair, Dasun Shanaka and Angelo Mathews is currently at the crease, needing a miracle to achieve a competitive total.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.