SriLankan Surprise !!

© AFP : Lasith Malinga... Four sure !!

When all thought that South Africa were cruising along in their tie against Sri Lanka on Wednesday... SriLankan pacer Lasith Malinga had other plans !! Before he came on to bowl the 45th over of the innings, South Africa were comfortable at 206/5, with only a boundary needed to reach the victory target of 210 ! Pollock was on strike, and as Malinga rushed in, he gave himself room to loft it over the cover boundary to seal a South African victory.. But Malinga bowled a slower one, right up there, to have Pollocks stumps scattered !!!

South Africa were now 206/6, as Andrew Hall walked in.

One ball to go in the 45th over... Hall on strike... Malinga comes up with another slower one, and all Hall can do was loft it straight into the hands of Tharanga at cover... another one gone !!

South Africa : 206/7. Next man in : Peterson

The next over only saw one run being scored... So, that sets up Kallis against Malinga in the 47th over, with 3 more runs to win. Jacques Kallis batting on 86, and looks easy for him - And what's more... Malinga is on a hat-trick.. Here he comes rushing in with full steam - And the ball is full outside off stump... And Kallis managed to knick this one to Sangakkara behind the stumps - Can you believe it ?!!? Malinga has taken a hat-trick in a World Cup game against South Africa !!! 3 in 3 balls now for him...

South Africa have always been termed "chokers" - Could this be yet another example ?? They are now 207/8 - Just two more wickets and Sri Lanka could pull off an extraordinary win here !! Next in : Makhaya Ntini.

Malinga comes in, with full fire in his eyes... The next ball to Ntini is full and straight - Dead on the stumps, swinging in. And Ntini had a swat at it, but misses... There you go !! Stumps all over, and Malinga gets four in four !!! A magical spell here from the Sri Lankan pacer, only to see South Africa stunned !! Just one wicket remains now, as Langeveldt walks in and 3 more runs to get !! It now looks like an uphill climb..

But South Africa played calm and cool, and Peterson edged one to the boundary, to seal victory for their team... The South African dressing room was tensed, and the Sri Lankans were dancing along... Malinga had changed the course of the game, but South Africa made it in the end.. To a much deserved win against the dreaded team of the tournament :)