In the first match of the day at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 142, with opener Pathum Nissanka top scoring after hitting 72 runs off 58 balls.

Dwaine Pretorius and Tabraiz Shamsi both took three wickets for South Africa, who were seeking their second win of the Super 12s stage.

In reply, Proteas captain Temba Bavuma held his side’s innings together with a run a ball 46.

Sri Lanka fought back thanks to a hat-trick from Wanindu Hasaranga, who dismissed Bavuma, Aiden Markram and Pretorius, for a first ball duck across two overs.

The Lions appeared favourites heading into the final over, with South Africa requiring 15 for victory.

Consecutive sixes from David Miller, who ended on 23 off 13 balls, helped South Africa triumph by four wickets off the penultimate ball.

The second match of the day in Group One pitted unbeaten sides England and Australia against each other at the Dubai International Stadium.

England cruised to an eight-wicket win with more than eight overs to spare thanks to an extraordinary display of hitting from wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, who struck 71 off 32 balls, including five fours and five sixes.

Earlier Australia were bowled out for 125, with Aaron Finch top scoring on 44, and Chris Jordan taking three wickets for 17 runs off his four overs.

After slumping to 21-4 in the powerplay, Australia never truly recovered and despite scoring 20 runs in the 17^th over they could not post a score that challenged their opponents.

Buttler produced a dominant display in England’s reply as they cruised to victory to send a statement of intent to their rivals, as they look to go one better from the previous edition in 2016, when they finished as runners-up to the West Indies.

England top the group table with six points, with South Africa and Australia following with four, and Sri Lanka and the West Indies both on two points.

In tomorrow’s Group Two matches Afghanistan face Namibia before India take on New Zealand.