Hashim Amla top-scored for South Africa in their opening match of the inaugural International Masters League in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday.
The 41-year-old former Proteas batsman struck 76 off 53 balls (six fours, four sixes) as SA posted 180-6 in 20 overs against Sri Lanka.
Morne van Wyk (17 off 13 balls), captain Jacques Kallis (24 off 20) and Dane Vilas (28* off 13) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.
HIGHLIGHTS: SA Masters vs Sri Lanka Masters
Sri Lanka, captained by Kumar Sangakkara, reached their target with seven wickets in hand and 16 balls to spare thanks to an unbeaten 114-run partnership between Asela Gunaratne (59* off 33 balls) and Chinthaka Jayasinghe (51* off 25).
South Africa’s next league-stage fixture in the six-team, 18-match T20 tournament is against Sachin Tendulkar’s India at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on Saturday.
The top four teams on the log will qualify for the semi-finals.
SA Masters fixtures and results
26 February: Lost to Sri Lanka by seven wickets, Navi Mumbai
1 March: vs India, Vadodara
3 March: vs England, Vadodara
7 March: vs Australia, Vadodara
11 March: vs West Indies, Raipur
13/14 March: Semi-finals
16 March: Final
International Masters League squads:
South Africa: Jacques Kallis (c), Alviro Petersen, Farhaan Behardien, Hashim Amla, Henry Davids, Jacques Rudolph, Jonty Rhodes, JP Duminy, Vernon Philander, Dane Vilas, Morne van Wyk, Eddie Leie, Garnett Kruger, Makhaya Ntini, Thandi Tshabalala.
India squad: Sachin Tendulkar (c), Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Stuart Binny, Dhawal Kulkarni, Vinay Kumar, Shahbaz Nadeem, Rahul Sharma, Naman Ojha, Pawan Negi, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Abhimanyu Mithun.
Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (c), Romesh Kaluwitharana, Ashan Priyanjan, Upul Tharanga, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Thirimanne, Chinthaka Jayasinghe, Seekkuge Prasanna, Jeevan Mendis, Isuru Udana, Dhammika Prasad, Suranga Lakmal, Dilruwan Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Chaturanga de Silva.
West Indies: Brian Lara (c), Chris Gayle, Kirk Edwards, Lendl Simmons, Narsingh Deonarine, Ashley Nurse, Dwayne Smith, Chadwick Walton, Denesh Ramdin, Williams Perkins, Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor, Ravi Rampaul, Sulieman Benn, Tino Best.
Australia: Shane Watson (c), Callum Ferguson, Nathan Reardon, Shaun Marsh, Ben Cutting, Dan Christian, Ben Dunk, Peter Nevill, Ben Hilfenhaus, Ben Laughlin, Bryce McGain, James Pattinson, Jason Krejza, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Xavier Doherty.
England: Eoin Morgan (c), Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Darren Maddy, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Tim Bresnan, Phil Mustard, Tim Ambrose, Boyd Rankin, Chris Schofield, Chris Tremlett, Monty Panesar, Ryan Sidebottom, Steve Finn, Stuart Meaker.
Photo: @imlt20official/X
