By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
In their first game of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, South Africa secured a six wicket win against Sri Lanka, amid growing concerns about the drop in pitches at the New York venue.
Sri Lanka was bowled out for a mere 77 runs in 19.1 overs, their lowest T20 total. Only three of their batters reached double figures, with Kusal Mendis scoring the highest with 19 runs off 30 balls. South African bowler Anrich Nortje achieved career best T20 figures of 4-7, while Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj claimed two wickets each.
Chasing a modest total, South Africa's batters played cautiously on the challenging pitch, reaching 80-4 in 16.2 overs. Quinton de Kock top-scored with 20 runs off 27 balls, and Tristan Stubbs added a restrained 13 off 28. Wanindu Hasaranga provided a glimmer of hope for Sri Lanka, taking 2-22, but Heinrich Klaasen (19 not out) and David Miller (6 not out) guided South Africa to victory with 22 balls remaining.
Klaasen praised the efforts to prepare the field, expressing hope for better playing conditions in future matches. The Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, the ICC’s showcase venue for the tournament, impressed with its scenic location in Eisenhower Park, despite its temporary setup. Organizing the event in such a short time was a notable achievement, as the ICC aims to boost cricket’s popularity in the United States.
A crowd of 12,562, primarily from the Sri Lankan diaspora, attended the historic first World Cup match in New York. However, the game lacked the thrilling strokeplay that could captivate new fans, partly due to the two paced drop in pitches. These pitches, grown in Australia and transported to the US, faced scrutiny after the match. Despite assurances from Adelaide Oval groundskeeper Damian Hough, the pitch conditions were inconsistent, affecting the play.
The slow outfield also hindered scoring. Despite these challenges, Nortje’s precision with length stood out. With the high profile India-Pakistan match upcoming, concerns linger about the pitch's suitability for such a significant game.
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South Africa captain Aiden Markram emphasized the need to adapt to varying conditions throughout the tournament. He acknowledged the benefit of playing consecutive matches at the same venue.
Player of the match Anrich Nortje expressed satisfaction with the pitch, noting that cricket doesn’t always require high scores to be entertaining.
Sri Lanka captain Wanindu Hasaranga admitted their target of 160-170 was overly optimistic, recognizing that the pitch was more suited for a 120-130 score. He hoped for a stronger performance from his team in future games.