Sri Lanka vs South Africa ICC World Cup: South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 9 wickets

Faf du Plessis’s 34^th fifty and Hashim Amla’s blazing 39^th half-century, combined with the brilliance of Dwaine Pretorius helped South Africa to get better of Sri Lanka by 9 wickets in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 at Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street on Friday. With this loss, Sri Lanka are virtually out of the quadrennial tournament and their qualification for the semi-finals is in the hands of other teams’ result.

22:10 hrs IST: That's it from us. Hope you enjoyed our coverage as much as we did to bring this to you. We're done with another World Cup 2019 game. Do join us for tomorrow's game as Pakistan take on Afghanistan in Leeds. Till then, it's goodbye from Vedant, Aseem, and Siddharth. Keep cheering and enjoy the World Cup. 

22:06 hrs IST: RESULT: South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 9 wickets (Hashim Amla 80*, Faf du Plessis 96*)

22:02 hrs IST: South Africa is now just three runs away from victory. 

21:58 hrs IST: Five runs from the over and a decent spell from Lasith Malinga comes to an end. In his 10 overs he gave 47 runs and picked the lone wicket. After 36 overs, it's 196/1.

21:55 hrs IST: South Africa is now just 13 runs away and the skipper is one less than three figure mark. After 35 overs, it's 191/1.

21:51 hrs IST: 19 needed off 96 balls. After 34 overs, it's 185/1.

21:45 hrs IST: Nine runs from the over. After 33 overs, it's 178/1.

21:40 hrs IST: Three runs from the over. 35 needed off 108 balls and it's time for DRINKS. After 32 overs, it's 169/1. 

21:35 hrs IST: With the end of the 31st over, South Africa is 166/1

21:30 hrs IST: After 29 overs, RSA is 154/1 

21:23 hrs IST: Good over for the Proteas, 13 runs off it, RSA is 149/1 after 28 overs

21:15 hrs IST: 6 runs added to the total, RSA is 136/1 after 27 overs

21:05 hrs IST: After the 25th over, RSA are 130/1 with Amla (57) and du Plessis (47) at crease

20:55 hrs IST: With the end of 22nd over, South Africa are 119/1 

20:45 hrs IST: The first 20 overs belong to South Africa here. They have dominated the chase quite well. After 20 overs, it's 111/1.

20:42 hrs IST: FIFTY! A well poised fifty by Proteas opener Hashim Amla. He came with a set plan and was able to execute it perfectly. His 39th ODI fifty came against Sri Lanka. 

20:40 hrs IST: 100-up for South Africa and Hashim Amla is just 1 away from a well-deserved fifty. After 19 overs, it's 105/1.

20:36 hrs IST: Four singles from the over. After 18 overs, it's 98/1. 

20:33 hrs IST: BIG over for South Africa. 13 came from it. After 17 overs, it's 94/1.

20:25 hrs IST: Just two runs from the over and Hasim Amla nears his 39th ODI fifty. After 16 overs, it's 81/1. Time for DRINKS! 

20:22 hrs IST: A boundary and three singles from the over. After 15 overs, it's 79/1.

20:17 hrs IST: Three runs from the over. After 14 overs, it's 72/1.

20:14 hrs IST: Runs are coming with ease for the Proteas and Sri Lanka needs a wicket soon. After 13 overs, it's 69/1. 

20:05 hrs IST: Five runs from the over and the partnership notches upto 27 between two. After 11 overs, it's 58/1. 

19:59 hrs IST: 50-up for South Africa and both Faf and Amla are looking good for big. After 10 overs, it's 53/1. 

19:56 hrs IST: Six runs from it. After 9 overs, it's 42/1. 

19:52 hrs IST: MAIDEN OVER! Thisara Perera introduced into the attack and didn't give even a single run. After 8 overs, it's 36/1. 

19:46 hrs IST: Couple of runs from Malinga's fourth over. After 7 overs, it's 36/1.

19:42 hrs IST: Three came from the over. After 6 overs, it's 34/1. 

19:35 hrs IST: WICKET! This was coming. Lasith Malinga bowled a yorker and de Kock had no answers what so ever. First wicket down for South Africa. After 5 overs, it's 31/1. 

19:32 hrs IST: Runs are coming easily for South Africa. Eight came from the over. After 4 overs, it's 28/0. 

19:28 hrs IST: Lasith Malinga has been expensive today. Not able to bowl in right lines. After 3 overs, it's 20/0. 

19:26 hrs IST: Good over by Dhanjaya de Silva. Just one from it. After 2 overs, it's 10/0. 

19:22 hrs IST: Couple of boundaries in the first over and South Africa see themselves at 9 for no loss. 

19:18 hrs IST: Welcome back! We are all set to for the chase. South Africa will be fancying their chances to chase against Sri Lanka. 

18:48 hrs IST: WICKET! Sri Lanka are all out for 203 and this is a below-par score. They need inspiration from Lasith Malinga.

18:44 hrs IST: One over to go. Sri Lanka are 198/9 in 49 overs. Can they reach 210?

18:42 hrs IST: WICKET! Udana top-edges the pull shot from Rabada and he takes the catch. Sri Lanka are 197/9 after 48.3 overs.

18:37 hrs IST: Oh dear! Play stopped in sunny Durham. We are back on and Sri Lanka are 195/8 after 48 overs.

18:32 hrs IST: Isuru Udana was almost dismissed by Rabada three times. Sri Lanka are 192/8 in 47 overs.

18:26 hrs IST: WICKET! Thisara Perera falls as he miscues the pull to deep midwicket, Rabada runs forward and takes the catch. He immediately raises the signal and after replays confirm it, Thisara is given the marching orders. Sri Lanka are 188/8 in 46 overs.

18:22 hrs IST: Thisara Perera holds the key now. Sri Lanka are 182/7 after 45 overs.

18:18 hrs IST: Sri Lanka are not able to get the big hits going. Sri Lanka are 179/7 after 44 overs.

18:14 hrs IST: Imran Tahir concedes a few runs but Sri Lanka are not able to get going. Sri Lanka are 174/7 after 43 overs.

18:10 hrs IST: Andile Phehlukwayo bowls a tight over and Sri Lanka are 171/7 after 42 overs.

18:01 hrs IST: WICKET! Jeevan Mendis' luck has run out. Short ball from Morris and he top-edges the pull shot and Pretorius takes the catch. Sri Lanka are 163/7 after 39.5 overs.

17:56 hrs IST: After the wicket first over, Duminy concedes a boundary to Thisara Perera and Jeevan Mendis. After 39 overs, Sri Lanka are 159/6.

17:51 hrs IST: Faf du Plessis misses a run-out of Thisara Perera and Jeevan Mendis breaks the shackles with a flicked six off Chris Morris. After 38 overs, Sri Lanka are 145/6.

17:42 hrs IST: WICKET! JP Duminy and against Sri Lanka. He really likes taking wickets against them. He strikes first ball and Dhananjaya de Silva employs the reverse sweep but ends up dragging it back on to the stumps. After 35.1 overs, Sri Lanka are 135/6.

17:37 hrs IST: Dhananjaya de Silva creams a boundary off Andile Phehlukwayo and after 35 overs, Sri Lanka are 135/5.

17:32 hrs IST: MAIDEN! Rabada and Tahir are trying to build the pressure. After 34 overs, Sri Lanka are 128/5.

17:23 hrs IST: Pretorius finishes his spell. 10-2-25-3 and after 32 overs, Sri Lanka are 127/5.

17:20 hrs IST: Dhananjaya de Silva breaks the shackles by clobbering a boundary to deep extra cover off Imran Tahir. After 31 overs, Sri Lanka are 123/5.

17:17 hrs IST: South Africa are building the pressure. Sri Lanka are 115/5 after 30 overs.

17:11 hrs IST: WICKET MAIDEN! Pretorius is having a brilliant time and he now has figures of 8-2-21-3. Sri Lanka need a big knock from someone.

17:08 hrs IST: WICKET! Sri Lanka are tottering. Short ball from Pretorius and Kusal Mendis mistimes the pull, he is caught by Morris at extra cover and Sri Lanka are 111/5 in the 28th over. No timing

17:04 hrs IST: MAIDEN OVER! Pretorius bowls a good over and after 26 overs, Sri Lanka are 110/4.

17:00 hrs IST: South Africa are building the pressure. After 25 overs, Sri Lanka are 106/4.

16:56 hrs IST: Kusal Mendis holds the key now as Morris bowls a tight over. After 24 overs, Sri Lanka are 104/4.

16:49 hrs IST: WICKET! Just when the partnership was building, Sri Lanka lose Angelo Mathews. Mathews flashes for the cut and drags it back onto the stumps. Sri Lanka are 101/4 after 23 overs.

16:45 hrs IST: Kusal Mendis gets a boundary off Imran Tahir and after 21 overs, Sri Lanka are 96/3

16:37 hrs IST: Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews are slowly trying to rebuild. After 19 overs, Sri Lanka are 87/3.

16:25 hrs IST: South Africa are on top currently in Durham. Both Kusal Perera and Avishka Fernando get to the 30s but they are sent back by Dwaine Pretorius. Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews are trying to revive the innings. After 16 overs, Sri Lanka are 83/3.

15:30 hrs IST: Quinton de Kock concedes four byes while Kagiso Rabada overpitches and that allows Kusal Perera to drive down the ground for yet another four. After five overs, Sri Lanka are 36/1.

15:26 hrs IST: Kusal Perera is matching Fernando stroke for stroke as Sri Lanka reach 26/1 after four overs.

15:21 hrs IST: Avishka is timing the ball superbly and Rabada concedes a boundary. Sri Lanka are 20/1 after three overs.

15:17 hrs IST: Kusal Perera gets going with a blazing boundary off Chris Morris. Avishka Fernando is showing his class as Sri Lanka are 14/1 after two overs.

15:10 hrs IST: Kusal Perera begins with a couple and Avishka Fernando gets off the mark with three runs. Sri Lanka are 6/1 after the first over.

15:05 hrs IST: WICKET! What a start for South Africa. Rabada bangs it short on the stumps, Karunaratne looks to fend at it and the ball thuds into the glove, third slip takes it. Karunaratne gone for a golden duck. Sri Lanka 0/1 in 0.1 overs.

14:42 hrs IST: Lungi Ngidi and David Miller are out and they have been replaced by JP Duminy and Dwaine Pretorius. For Sri Lanka, Suranga Lakmal replaces Nuwan Pradeep. Here are the playing XIs

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Dimuth Karunaratne(c), Kusal Perera(w), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal

South Africa (Playing XI): Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock(w), Faf du Plessis(c), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Jean-Paul Duminy, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir

14:35 hrs IST: South Africa has chosen to bowl against Sri Lanka in Durham. There are two changes in the Proteas side with Lungi Ngidi ruled out.

14:27 hrs IST: There is plenty in this match for Sri Lanka. If they win this contest, they stay in contention for the playoffs. If they lose this, they will have to win their remaining two games. For South Africa, it is only a matter of pride now.

14:22 hrs IST: Lasith Malinga's four in four? South Africa's maiden knock-out win? The DLS misinterpretation? What was your favorite South Africa vs Sri Lanka World Cup moment? For me, the 2003 DLS farce was epic simply because it had so much drama.

14:16 hrs IST: For both teams, the World Cup contests has plenty of action. In 2003, a misinterpretation of the Duckworth-Lewis method saw South Africa getting eliminated. In 2007, they survived a Lasith Malinga storm in which he took four wickets in four balls. In 2015, South Africa won their only knock-out game when they beat Sri Lanka by a big margin in Sydney thanks to a JP Duminy hat-trick.

14:11 hrs IST: A warm welcome to the game between Sri Lanka and South Africa from Chester-le-Street in Durham. It is a picteresque ground with a haunted castle in the background. For Sri Lanka, they will be looking to exorcise the ghosts of previous losses to South Africa while the Proteas will be haunted by their early loss in this tournament.