Sri Lanka Rest Big Guns in Dead Rubber

Colombo: Having taken an unbeatable 3-1 led in the five-match ODI series against South Africa, Sri Lanka decided to rest the senior troika of Mahela Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga and Rangana Herath from the final match on Wednesday.

Uncapped players Vimukthi Perera and Chaturanga de Silva have been drafted in while out-of-form opening batsman Kusal Janith Perera has been presented with another opportunity, replacing Upul Tharanga.

Vimukthi Perera, 23 is a left-arm medium pacer while Chaturanga de Silva is a left-handed all-rounder who bowls slow left-arm spin.

Sri Lanka have taken the lead in the series, continuing of South Africa's poor ODI run on Sri Lankan soil since 1993.

Sri Lanka and South Africa will not let the intensity slip in Wednesday's fifth and final one-day international in Colombo even though the hosts have already wrapped up the series.

The day-night game at the Premadasa stadium will hold only academic interest as Sri Lanka gained an unassailable 3-1 lead following their eight-wicket win in Pallekele on Sunday.

South African captain AB de Villiers said he wants a win to improve his nation's poor track record in Sri Lanka, where the Proteas have won just two of their 14 completed one-dayers going back to 1993.

The skipper laid the blame for the series loss on poor batting on spin-friendly pitches.

South Africa rested premier fast bowler Dale Steyn and leading all-rounder Jacques Kallis for the tour, while former ODI captain Graeme Smith was sidelined due to injury.

Star batsman Hashim Amla was injured for two of the four matches and has batted just once in the series, making 77 on Sunday.

Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews insisted his side was looking to add to the tourists' woes by winning the last match to make it a 4-1 scoreline.

Teams from

Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (Capt.), Dinesh Chandimal (vice-Captain), Tilakratne Dilshan, Kusal Janith Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Angelo Perera, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal Shaminda Eranga, Vimukthi Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Ajantha Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne and Chathuranga de Silva.

South Africa: AB de Villiers (captain & wk), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wk), Jean-Paul Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, David Miller, Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Aaron Phangiso and Lonwabo Tsotsobe

Match facts
Wednesday July 31, 2013 (day/night)
Start time 1430 local (0900 GMT)

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Dilshan Powers Sri Lanka to Victory [+]

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All-round South Africa Win T20 Series [+]

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Duminy Stars in Low-scoring Thriller [+]

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All-round Sri Lanka Blow Away Insipid South Africa [+]

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Sri Lanka Rest Big Guns in Dead Rubber [+]

Having taken an unbeatable 3-1 led in the five-match ODI series against South Africa, Sri Lanka decided to rest the senior troika of Jayawardene, Malinga and Herath from the final match on Wednesday.

All Round Sri Lanka Secure Series [+]

Mendis 4/51 and Malinga 3/52 followed by Dilshan (115*) and Sangakkara (91) helped Sri Lanka beat South Africa by 7 wickets to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match ODI series.

South Africa Stay Alive With Easy Win [+]

Miller (85*) and Tsotsobe (4-22) and Behardien (3-19) did well with the ball to help South Africa defeat Sri Lanka by 56 runs in the 3rd ODI in Pallekele.

Injured Hashim Amla May Miss Sri Lanka ODIs [+]

Hashim Amla is struggling to be fit for the next two one-day internationals in Sri Lanka after suffering a groin strain in Tuesday's defeat by the home side.

Sri Lanka 2-0 up Against South Africa [+]

Rangana Herath took two crucial wickets as Sri Lanka defeated South Africa in the rain-affected one-dayer in Colombo, taking a 2-0 lead in five-match series.

Sangakkara 169 Powers Sri Lanka Win [+]

Sangakkara (169) helps Sri Lanka inflicted a huge 180 run defeat on South Africa at the Premadasa stadium in Colombo on Saturday.