Steyn inspires South Africa victory

South Africa secure a two-run victory over New Zealand and Sri Lanka bowl The Netherlands out for a record low 39.

Steyn dismissed Luke Ronchi with the first ball and Nathan McCullum in the final over [Getty Images]

Dale Steyn and JP Duminy led South Africa to a thrilling two-run win over Group One rivals New Zealand that kept them in the hunt for a semi-final spot at the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.

South Africa, who lost their opening match to Sri Lanka, struggled early on and needed a blistering unbeaten 86 off 43 balls by Duminy to reach 170 for six.

Hashim Amla (41) contributed with Duminy in a 55-run stand after South Africa had slumped to 42 for three.

The fourth-wicket partnership was broken in bizarre fashion when Amla thumped a ball from Anderson and it hit Duminy’s bat at the non-striker’s end before spooning up for the bowler to complete an easy catch.

Duminy was full of improvised strokes, bludgeoning 10 fours and three sixes as his side added 70 runs in the last five overs.

New Zealand seemed to be cruising in their reply thanks to Kane Williamson’s 35-ball 51 and Ross Taylor’s 62.

They needed 31 off 24 deliveries with seven wickets in hand but a brilliant two-over spell from Steyn (4-17) turned the match on its head.

The fiery paceman dismissed the dangerous Corey Anderson for seven in the 18th over and then picked up two for four in the last over with the Kiwis, who beat England in their first match, requiring seven for victory.

Taylor, needing three off the last ball, was run out.

Leg-spinner Imran Tahir also played a key role, taking two for 27, but paceman Morne Morkel had a day to forget as he went for 50 in three overs.

Netherlands’ record low 

Sri Lanka skittled qualifiers Netherlands for 39, a record low total in Twenty20 Internationals, to romp to a nine-wicket win and close in on a semi-final spot at the World Twenty20.

Paceman Angelo Mathews blew the Dutch top order away with a three-wicket burst while spinner Ajantha Mendis mowed down the lower order as Netherlands folded in 10.3 overs.

Sri Lanka lost Kusal Perera (14) but chased down the target in five overs to top Group One with four points after their second successive victory in the tournament.

It was also the biggest victory in Twenty20 Internationals in terms of balls to spare.

Source: Reuters