South Africa's batsmen capitalised on a good bowling performance as they defeated Sri Lanka by one wicket to claim their first points of the Super Eight stage of the tournament.
Jacques Kallis' score of 86 was the best of the match and helped his side claim a crucial victory which looked in jeopardy after a stunning fight back by the Sri Lankan bowlers.
Sri Lanka struggled to a score of 209 all out which looked to be a low score at one stage but the Proteas reached the target with only one wicket remaining in a tense finish.
Lasith Malinga claimed a hat-trick towards the end of the South African innings just as they looked to be cruising to victory. Earlier Muttiah Muralitharan had taken two wickets in two balls but their efforts proved to be in vain.
Chaminda Vaas took the wicket of AB de Villiers in his first over but Graeme Smith and Kallis came together and steadied the innings.
The pair put on a partnership of 94 before Smith departed for 59. Herchelle Gibbs made 31 before the Proteas eventually limped to the required total.
Earlier Charl Langeveldt and Makhaya Ntini had reduced South-east Asian side to 65-3 as the South African bowlers restrict the dangerous Sri Lankan top order.
But Tillekeratne Dilshan (58) and Russell Arnold (50) re-built the Sri Lankan innings, each reaching their half-centuries in a partnership worth 97.
Some strong bowling at the death meant that Sri Lanka struggled to find the boundaries late in their innings that would have given them the impetus they required having fought back so well, eventually finishing on 209 all out.
However, it was Kallis' stoic 86 from 107 balls that proved to be the difference between the sides as they got home with ten deliveries remaining.
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