South Africa Women vs Sri Lanka Women, 1st Match, Group A - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

As bizarre as it may seem, Australia 2020, New Zealand 2022 and now South Africa 2023. All three hosting nations of the last three World Cups (2 T20I and one 50-over WC) have lost the tournament opener. South Africa can draw inspiration from Australia though, as the World Champions went onto win the World Cup at the MCG in March 2020. We will see how they come back in the next game. For now it's time to say goodbye. A double-header awaits tomorrow. Do remember to tune in for both the games. Cheers!!

Chamari Athapaththu | Player of the Match and Sri Lankan skipper: Really happy, I always try my best and lead from the front. Our bowling attack and batting unit did really well in today's game. We knew South Africa are a very quality team and they are playing in their home conditions, but we played good cricket today and finally we won. She is our U-19 captain and upcoming player, she showed how good she is today and I am really happy for her [on Vishmi]. Just play my natural game when I'm in the middle and focus on the next game as well. We have good culture in the team. We share a lot of knowledge and always think about the game. I think 140-150 was a good score, but unfortunately we couldn't get there. We upset some big teams on a couple of occasions, and this time we want to play good cricket and try to go to the semi-finals. This is my 8th T20 World Cup and I hope I can do better and help my team reach the semis. Really happy to see a lot of crowd here, it's a good thing for women's cricket.

Sune Luus | South African skipper: Thank you to the crowd for turning up, it was amazing turn out and we hope you guys keep coming back and enjoy women's cricket as much as we do. Sri Lanka had a good partnership in the middle with Athapaththu who batted brilliantly today and we lacked those partnerships in our batting. Chasing 130 was a par score, I thought even 140-150 was chaseable. One game doesn't define a team, still a long way to go and there are a lot of positives today. Our powerplay bowling was excellent today and obviously a few chipping in with the bat, so lot of positives going into the next couple of games.

22:16 Local, 20:16 GMT, 01:46 IST: The South African dressing room look shell-shocked. Marizanne Kapp seems absolutely disgruntled. To summarize it simply, South Africa have been strangled by spin and they only have themselves to blame because, they allowed the visitors to bowl to their strengths and very rarely used their feet. Except for Luus, all other top-order batters threw away starts and got out looking for a boundary. They could have taken the game deep with wickets in hand, but wasn't to be. South Africa will be hurting for they know their semi-final chances have already taken a huge hit. Not that they had better chances before the start of the game, but a win in the tournament opener in home conditions would have been a real confidence-booster, but wasn't to be. Remember, they will have to face New Zealand and Australia next...

Sugandika Kumari to Mlaba, FOUR, very full outside off, smoked away over mid-off and it races away to the boundary. It will not matter one bit though. Sri Lanka win this thriller by 3 runs.

Sugandika Kumari to Mlaba, no run, floated too full outside off, Mlaba slogs and gets it off the thick inside edge onto her thigh pad

Sugandika Kumari to Ayabonga Khaka, 1 run, throws her bat on the drive and slices it off the outer half to backward point

Sugandika Kumari to Mlaba, 1 run, uses her feet and drills the full delivery to long-on

Nonkululeko Mlaba, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Sugandika Kumari to Ismail, out Ismail Run Out!! 1 run completed. Heaves the quicker delivery into the leg-side and calls for two straightaway. No way Ismail was gonna make it unless there's a fumble. The fielder gets to the ball quickly and fires a fine throw at the keeper's end. Sanjeewani does the rest. Ismail run out (Sugandika Kumari/Sanjeewani) 7(4) [4s-1]

Sugandika Kumari to Ismail, THATS OUT!! Run Out!!

Sugandika Kumari to Ismail, 2 runs, advances and smacks the full delivery back over the bowler's head, nearly takes off umpire Kim Cotton off her feet. The ump had to take a tumble to evade that...

Sugandika Kumari [3.0-0-19-2] is back into the attack

Sri Lanka are behind on the over-rate and the extra fielder has been brought inside the circle

Ranaweera to Ayabonga Khaka, no run, tossed up wide of off, Khaka looks to loft it down the ground and drags her back foot a bit too far outside the crease in the process. Appeal for a stumping and there's nothing on the UltraEdge. There's enough (heel of the back foot) inside the crease and the telly umpire is satisfied with that. Not out

Ayabonga Khaka, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Ranaweera to Ismail, out Sinalo Jafta Run Out!! There was never a single there and Sinalo Jafta is gone. Ismail steered this towards short third and Sinalo Jafta called her partner through for a non-existent single. Sharp one-handed throw and Jafta wasn't even in the frame. Sinalo Jafta run out (Ranasinghe/Sanjeewani) 15(9) [4s-2]

Ranaweera to Ismail, THATS OUT!! Run Out!!

Ranaweera to Ismail, FOUR, fumble from short third and it results in a boundary. Full outside off, Ismail slices the drive off the thick outside edge and it nutmegs the fielder at short third

Shabnim Ismail, left handed bat, comes to the crease