Super exciting: South Africa beats S. Lanka in Super Over

South Africa beat Sri Lanka in a Super Over to decide a frantic and often farcical first Twenty20 at Newlands on Wednesday.

The teams finish tied in a helter-skelter end to the regulation 20 overs a side after South Africa collapsed from a position where victory seemed certain and had to scramble a single off the last ball of their chase to tie the scores.

As South Africa sneaked through for that tying run, Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella missed a straightforward throw at the stumps that would have given Sri Lanka an improbable victory.

South Africa's David Miller is run out during the first T20 cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, March 19, 2019. (AP PhotoNasief Manie)

South Africa batted first in the Super Over and made 14, with David Miller cracking a six and a four off Sri Lankan captain Lasith Malinga.

South Africa chose legspinner Imran Tahir to bowl Sri Lanka's Super Over and he conceded just five — although that still included two dropped catches and two wides.

That was only half the story of a thrilling match.

South Africa's David Miller plays a shot during the super over in the first T20 cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, March 19, 2019. (AP PhotoNasief Manie)

South Africa threw away its winning position and only just managed to tie the scores and force the Super Over. Tahir was the savior for the home team then, too.

He came in with South Africa needing two to win and one to tie. His inside edge enabled the South Africans to sneak through for the run that took it to 134-8 and tie Sri Lanka, who posted 134-7.

Dickwella's throw from close range missed the stumps and the ball also then hit Tahir, who was sprinting down the pitch to complete the run.

Sri Lanka celebrates the wicket of South Africa's Faf du Plessis during the first T20 cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, March 19, 2019. (AP PhotoNasief Manie)

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South Africa's batman Rassie van der Dussen plays a shot at the wicket during the first T20 cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, March 19, 2019. (AP PhotoNasief Manie)

South Africa celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Avishka Fernando during the first T20 cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, March 19, 2019. (AP PhotoNasief Manie)

Sri Lanka's Avishka Fernando, plays a shot at the wicket during the first T20 cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, March 19, 2019. (AP PhotoNasief Manie)

Sri Lanka's Avishka Fernando, is bowled out at the wicket by Andile Phehlukwayo during the first T20 cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, March 19, 2019. (AP PhotoNasief Manie)

Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis, is stumped at the wicket during the first T20 cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, March 19, 2019. (AP PhotoNasief Manie)

Sri Lanka's Angelo Perera is bowled out during the first T20 cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, March 19, 2019. (AP PhotoNasief Manie)