Sri Lanka started the champions trophy with a bang by beating the no. 1 ranked South African team by 55 runs (D/L Method). Tillakaratne Dilshan along with skipper Sangakkara and Jayawardene are the star for the Sri Lankan team that led the team with a superb win in the opener. Ajantha Mendis bowled superbly and got 3 wickets for 30 runs in his 7 overs. Sri Lanka now are 1 up in the tournament and have showed their potential n hunger to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2009.

Earlier, Graeme Smith, South Africa skipper won the toss and elected to filed first considering the dew factor. But his plan bounced back on his team, none of the bowlers except Dale Steyn managed to bowl a good line to the Sri Lankan team. Dilshan smashed the bowlers hard and all around the ground giving no chance to the SA. South Africa did got an early breakthrough with Dale Steyn picking up the wicket of Sanath Jayasuriya but after that Dilshan, Sangakkara and Jayawardene did not gave any chance to South African team to move the pressure back to the Lankans. Sri Lanka finally managed to get past 300 runs and made it difficult for the South Africans.

South Africa coming back to chase the target of 320 started shakily by loosing Amla in the 3rd over. Smith along with Kallis tried to stabilize the innings and built-up a good partnership but that doesn’t last too long. Smith scored a half century but only his effort can’t help the team chase such a big target. South Africa’s jey batsman de Villiers, Duminy failed to give any contribution to the team and finally rain halted the play after SA were 206/7 in 37.4 overs. South Africa were way behind and lost the match by D/L method. A very disappointing start for the no. 1 ranked team in the ICC Champions trophy 2009.

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