South Africa's Anrich Nortje delivered a stellar performance, taking four wickets for just seven runs, as the Proteas dismissed Sri Lanka for a record low total of 77 in their T20 World Cup opener in New York on Monday. This total marks Sri Lanka's lowest in T20 cricket, and Nortje's figures set a new benchmark for a South African bowler in a T20 World Cup, surpassing his previous best of 4-10 against Bangladesh in Sydney two years ago.

Kagiso Rabada (2-21) and Keshav Maharaj (2-22), who took two wickets in two balls, also played pivotal roles in dismantling Sri Lanka's batting lineup. Sri Lanka's innings saw only two batsmen, Kusal Mendis (19) and Angelo Mathews (16), reaching double figures after captain Wanindu Hasaranga chose to bat first on what turned out to be a challenging pitch for batting.

South Africa, too, faced early struggles in their chase. They lost wickets quickly, finding themselves at 23-2 and later 58-4. However, opener Quinton de Kock's 20 runs and Heinrich Klaasen's crucial 19 not out, which included a six and a four in successive deliveries, helped steady the innings. South Africa eventually reached their target, finishing at 80-4 with 26 balls remaining.

The match saw a dramatic start with Ottneil Baartman, making his World Cup debut, sparking Sri Lanka's collapse by having Pathum Nissanka caught in the deep with his first ball. Nortje then dismissed Kamindu Mendis in similar fashion, further piling on the pressure.

Keshav Maharaj struck twice in the ninth over, stumping Hasaranga and clean bowling Sadeera Samarawickrama for nought, leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 32-4. Charith Asalanka survived the hat-trick ball but the damage had already been done. Nortje later returned to dismiss Mathews, and Sri Lanka's innings ended with five balls remaining when last man Nuwan Thushara was run out, contributing to four ducks in the innings.