Colombo: Shane Watson continued his dominating run in the T20 World Cup and helped Australia register a comprehensive victory over South Africa in their Super Eights at the R Premada Stadium here on Sunday

Australia rode on Watson brilliant all round performance (two wickets and 70 runs) to clinch an eight wicket in consolidate their chances of making it to the semifinals. Australia now have four points from two matches, while with the two losses from as many matches South Africa now are on the brink of elimination from the tournament.

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Brief scores

Australia 147 for 2 (Watson 70) beat South Africa 146 for 5 (Peterson 32*, Doherty 3-20) by 8 wickets

Match facts:

Toss: Australia, elected to field

South Africa:

Powerplay: 34 runs, 3 wickets (0-6 overs)

4’s: 14, 6’s: 2

Australia

Powerplay: 38, 1 wicket (0-6 overs)

4’s: 13, 6’s: 5

Man of the match: Shane Watson

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Chasing a target of 147, Australia lost the aggressive David Warner early, but Watson combined with Michael Hussey stitched a partnership of 99 for the second wicket to dash South Africa’s hopes.

Watson’s 47 ball innings included eight boundaries and couple of sixes, whereas Hussey 37 balls 45 was laced with two hits to the fence and as many sixes. 

Earlier put into bat first, South Africa’s batting was off the mark once again and they could never get going against the Aussies bowling attack. Xavier Doherty playing in his first match of the tournament struck an important blow in the first over of the match as he dismissed the dangerous Richard Levi for a duck.

The Proteas then lost few wickets in a flurry but some entertaining innings down the order saw them crawl to 146-5 in 20 overs. Robin Peterson (32, six boundaries) was the highest scorer for them.

Doherty was the wrecker-in-chief for Australia as he picked up 3-20 in his four overs. He was well supported by Watson who returned with figures of 2-29.

Watson all round performance earned him his fourth consecutive man of the match award in the tournament.

 By Indian Sports News Network