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The SCG will live long in South Africa’s ODI memory, after they thumped Sri Lanka by nine wickets, with a record 192 deliveries up their sleeve.
Sadly, this meant no fitting farewell for Sri Lankan batting legends Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.
On Tuesday South African skipper AB de Villiers made this promise to his country: “We are not going to choke, we’re going to play a good game of cricket, and come out on top.”
But in the back of his mind would be the six previous World Cup appearances (where there are no quarter finals shown, it was straight to semis):
1992 – lost to England in the semis by 19 runs.
1996 – lost to West Indies in the quarters by 19 runs.
1999 – lost to Australia in the semis in a tie, as Australia had the better run-rate.
2003 – failed to make the finals series.
2007 – lost to Australia in the semis by seven wickets.
2011 – lost to New Zealand in the quarters by 49 runs.
True to his word, de Villiers didn’t even have to bat, but he led South Africa with aggression after losing the toss, setting up the romp.
But the South African success with the ball came from two slowies, not the much-vaunted pace attack of Dale Steyn (1-18), Kyle Abbott (1-27), and Morne Morkel (1-27).
Offie JP Duminy had to advise his skipper he was on a hat-trick, having dismissed Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews with the last ball of his eighth over, then Nuwan Kulasekara and Tharindu Kaushal with his first two balls of his ninth.
De Villiers didn’t tell anyone else in the team, but the celebrations said it all when Kaushal fell leg before.
But it was man of the match leggie Imran Tahir who ended up South Africa’s most potent bowler, with 4-26 off 8.2 taking his tournament figures to 15 wickets at 18.86.
South African left-handed opening batsman Quinton de Kock was in the mix for the man of the match with by far his best score of the World Cup – an unbeaten 78 off only 58 deliveries, including 12 sweetly timed boundaries.
His previous digs were 7, 7, 12, 1, 0 and 25. If South Africa is to enjoy a successful campaign, more De Kock knocks like that are vital.
Those were the game highlights, but for Sangakkara and Jayawardene their salutes are for lengthy careers.
In ODI history, the top five batsman are Sachin Tendulkar (18426 at 44.83), Sangakkara (14234 at 41.98), Ricky Ponting (13704 at 42.03), Sanath Jayasuriya (13430 at 32.36), and Jayawardene (12650 at 33.37). Three Sri Lankans in the top five.
That Sangakkara and Jayawardene should call halt at the same time is a sad day for Sri Lanka. They have been household names for what seems an eternity – Jayawardene for 17 years and Sangakkara for 15.
Sangakkara cracked 25 tons and 93 half-centuries, Jayawardene 19 tons and 77 half-centuries,
Both will be sorely missed around the world as Sri Lanka bowed out of the tournament.
But South Africa has sent out a strong warning – they are not on a junket in Australia, they are here to win their first World Cup.