South Africa skipper AB de Villiers has asserted that Imran Tahir had earned the right to 'go a little overboard' with his celebrations after a match-winning display against Sri Lanka on Saturday. He also said that the ICC put their latest technology for clocking the leg-spinner's top speed as he took off around the outfield.

Tahir's trademark celebration, which involves shouting crazily while sprinting towards the stands with extended arms, got frequent outings at the Oval as the 38-year-old's four wickets for 27 choked the Sri Lankan run chase in its tracks and helped the Proteas to register a 96-run victory in their Champions Trophy opener.

Talking about the technology, Tahir said, "I'm quite pleased with the numbers - I'll be showing them to the fitness coach! I'm just so pleased - I really don't know what I do (when I celebrate). I just like to enjoy my cricket."

As well as his four-for, Tahir enhanced Sri Lanka's departure on Saturday with a superb direct hit from mid-on to run out Suranga Lakmal at the striker's end - all the more remarkable considering he is not known for his fielding skills. He said, "It was very cool. We work really hard as a group in training, but I do a little bit extra because I have to as there are so many good fielders in our team. I need to make my name somehow, and I was just really pleased that it happened for me."

Also read: Big blow for Sri Lanka

In the meantime, Upul Tharanga has been handed a two-match ban by the ICC for Sri Lanka's slow over-rate in the match.

ICC rules specify that a team must bowl their 50 overs within three and a half hours, while Tharanga's side took four hours and seven minutes on Saturday. Tharanga pleaded guilty to the fault and will miss his side's Champions Trophy matches against India on Thursday and Pakistan on Monday.