SL vs SA | Twitter reacts as Keshav Maharaj dismantles Sri Lanka's middle order with back-to-back wickets

06/03/2024

Spin bowling is a subtle art of deception, designed to pick quick wickets and choke the opposition. This skill was fully displayed in Group D’s opening game between Sri Lanka and South Africa where Keshav Maharaj wreaked havoc on Sri Lanka’s middle order picking two wickets in succession.

‌The pace and bounce-friendly pitch of Nassau County in New York set the stage for Group D’s first match between Sri Lanka and South Africa. Lankan skipper Wanindu Hasaranga won the toss and surprisingly chose to bowl first, given the pitch conditions. This decision quickly backfired as Sri Lanka lost Pathum Nissanka in the fourth over. By the end of the powerplay, Sri Lanka was struggling at 24/1, and Keshav Maharaj compounded their woes in the ninth over.

On the second ball of the ninth over, Maharaj bowled a slower off-break to Hasaranga. The Lankan skipper advanced down the crease, attempting a big slog, but the spin deceived him. The ball swung past his bat and was cleanly collected by Proteas wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, who swiftly dislodged the bails, leaving Hasaranga stranded out of his crease.

Sri Lanka's troubles deepened with the next delivery as Maharaj bowled a length ball to Sadeera Samarawickrama. Misjudging the line and length, Samarawickrama attempted a cut shot but missed as the ball crashed into the middle stump. With two consecutive wickets, Maharaj celebrated jubilantly with his teammates, while Sri Lanka's batting order continued to crumble.

The Twitterverse erupted in praise of Maharaj's brilliance as social media commended his performance.

Captain's knock in parallel universe!

Keshav maharaj on fire 😎🔥

— WORLD CUP FOLLOWER (@BiggBosstwts)

How cheap was that?

Hasaranga gifted wicket 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️
— KUDALINGAM MUTHU (@KUDALINGAM49671)

Needs to learn bit patience!

Aur hasaranga hutiye ne idhr batting li
— Arjun (@Lilhommie02)

And the story continues!

another hasaranga duck im an oracle
— hannah hampton super fan (@wossa_3)

Legend!

But brother Hasaranga wins the toss and bats first somehow. And gets out for a duck with the bat as a cherry on the cake. Great job da.
— Hazza (@AzzurriLFC)

Hmmm!

So did hasaranga
— A (@AJ078101)

May be let's hope for the best!

Wait bro is wkt pe Theekshana Hasaranga ne bowling bhi krni
— Hassan Zahid (@Iam_hassan10)

Yeah! It makes a lot of difference now!

Very irresponsible from Captain Hasaranga. You cannot throw your wicket like this 😒

🇱🇰 in deep trouble in their first encounter
— Eitezaz Raheel (@MuhammadEitezaz)

What?

Hasaranga 🔥 today pakka
— కోపదారి మనిషి (@NagarajuMasart1)

Interesting fact!

Captains who got out for a duck in the T20WC

Aqib IIyas (Oman) , 2024

Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka), 2024, Today

Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka), 2014
— Vishwesh Gaur (@iumvishwesh)

SL vs SA | Twitter reacts as Keshav Maharaj dismantles Sri Lanka's middle order with back-to-back wickets

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