Johannesburg - The Proteas scored an exciting five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka with three balls to spare in their opening practice match at Kensington Oval on Wednesday in preparation for the ICC World Twenty20.
They play a second match against England on Thursday and their first match in the tournament proper against India at Beausejour, St Lucia, on Sunday.
"It was great to start with a victory," commented captain Graeme Smith. "The result itself was not that important. What impressed me was the calmness we showed in batting down the target. This was one of several positives to take out of the match," he added.
Both sides rested a number of players who had been involved in the Indian Premier League. The Sri Lankans were without three key bowlers in Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis while the Proteas gave Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn, Albie Morkel and JP Duminy a break. All four were involved in the semifinal stage of the IPL.
The Proteas are likely to start with their strongest side on Thursday against England in preparation for the pool match against India.
One of the biggest positives for the Proteas was the form of the recalled all-rounder, Rory Kleinveldt. "He bowled with good aggression up front and also impressed at the death," commented Mark Boucher.
"He did not get much of a chance with the bat (he faced only one ball in the final over) but he will take a lot out of this match."
Boucher and Johan Botha did the vital job with the bat during a fifth-wicket stand of 61 off 33 balls. At one stage the required run rate was above 11 but they batted it down so successfully that only two runs were required off the last over.
Botha (29 off 17 balls with 3 fours and a six) was dismissed off the first ball of the final over but Kleinveldt took a single off the second and Boucher scored a boundary off the third to finish the match decisively.
Boucher's contribution was an unbeaten 33 off 20 balls with three fours and a six.
"I was very rusty at the start of my knock, having not been in the middle for some time," the wicketkeeper commented. "And it was difficult to get my timing right on a typical slow West Indies wicket where the ball tended to keep low.
"This match also showed us that a target in excess of 160 is going to be very difficult to chase down in these conditions." The Proteas' attack did an excellent job up front having Sri Lanka in a lot of trouble at 30/4 at the end of the six powerplay overs. The pitch had good bounce and carry for the quicker bowlers when the ball was hard and new.
Charl Langeveldt also exploited the humid conditions to gain impressive swing.
Langeveldt took the key wickets of Mahela Jayawardene (with the aid of a brilliant diving catch by Morne Morkel at third man) and Kumar Sangakkara in his second over after Kleinveldt had dismissed Tillekeratne Dilshan first ball in his first over.
Morkel, who has been impressive both at the nets and in the middle, also picked up a wicket and he and Kleinveldt were the pick of the attack in the death overs.
Morkel finished with 2/25 in 4 overs and Kleinveldt with 2/13 in three.
His second wicket was the important one of Sanath Jayasuriya who showed his experience in getting Sri Lanka out of the hole they had dug in their first few overs to set up a competitive total.
Jayasuriya and Chamara Kapugedera, who plundered 5 sixes and 3 fours in his unbeaten 61 off 35 balls, put on 52 for the sixth wicket in 8 overs.
With the exception of Graeme Smith, all the South African top order got starts but Boucher and Botha produced the only partnership of note. - Sapa