(Sports) South Africa smashes Sri Lanka out of World Cup

A spectacular hat trick from all-rounder JP Duminy has helped steer South Africa to its first ever World Cup knockout game win, smashing Sri Lanka in their quarterfinal in Sydney on Wednesday night.

The Proteas comfortably ran out nine wicket winners at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), progressing to the semifinals on the back of a spin masterclass from Duminy and man-of-the-match Imran Tahir, who together combined for seven of the team's 10 wickets.

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat but South Africa were sharp from the outset, with wickets to frontline pacemen Dale Steyn and Kyle Abbott in the first five overs.

After dismissing Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kusal Perera, The Proteas had the Sri Lankans reeling at just four runs for the loss of two wickets.

Lahiru Thirimanne responded in a typically brash fashion, blasting consecutive boundaries from his first few balls, followed by some risky aerial work to try and steady the ship.

Stalwart Kumar Sangakkara took a bit longer to get going, laboring to six runs off 41 deliveries before he asserted some authority on the match, but Thirimanne popped a caught-and-bowled opportunity to Imran Tahir and departed for 41, slowing progress yet again.

The Proteas' spinner then dismissed Mahela Jayawardene for just four runs, and South Africa were well on top halfway through the Sri Lankan innings.

Then, in an extraordinary fifteen minutes of play, four Sri Lankan wickets fell in a period of just 14 balls, taking with them the hopes of a nation.

Sri Lanka's captain Angelo Mathews fell cheaply to a lazy on- drive, Thisara Perera departed just balls later to a thick edge, and Sri Lanka had suddenly slumped to six wickets for 116 after 34 overs.

It got worse for the Sri Lankans; JP Duminy picked up a hat trick after Nuwan Kulasekara edged finely to Quinton de Kock off the first ball of his next over, and Tharindu Kaushal stepped back to a straighter delivery, leaving him out LBW on his first ball -- meaning Duminy picked up three wickets in three balls over two separate overs.

Sangakkara attempted to restore some respectability to the score, grinding his way to 45 before holing out to deep backward point, and the 10th wicket partnership could only muster a few more runs before Sri Lanka were bowled out for 133.

South African opening batsmen Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock wasted no time in chasing down the low total; the pair combined for 40 off just six overs before Amla was caught slashing to deep backward square leg.

De Kock then showed some return to form, the wicketkeeper batsman smashed boundaries all over the SCG on the way to his first World Cup half century, after averaging only 8.83 during the group stage of the tournament.

Together with Francois du Plessis, de Kock guided South Africa home, chasing down the target of 134 after just 18 overs.

South Africa will play the winner of the quarterfinal between New Zealand and the West Indies in Auckland on March 24. Endi