All-round Sri Lanka Blow Away Insipid South Africa

Colombo: Suranga Lakmal 3-24, Ajantha Mendis 3-36 star with ball while Dilshan (99) as Sri Lanka beat South Africa by 128 runs to clinch the series by 4-1 at the Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday..

A dominant performance from Sri Lanka, sweeping aside South Africa despite bringing in a host of understudies. Caps a terrific series for them, and leaves South Africa with plenty of homework to do.

This 4-1 defeat is South Africa's worst ODI series performance since its 4-0 loss in England (Natwest Series) in August 2008.

The Man of the Match is Tillakaratne Dilshan. Man of the Series is Kumar Sangakkara for scoring 372 runs in the series and 13 dismissels behind the wickets.

Earlier, Tillakaratne Dilshan was bowled for 99 and missed his second straight century of the series Wednesday but helped Sri Lanka score a challenging 307-4.

Dilshan and Lahiru Thirimanne (68) shared 163 runs for the second wicket after the hosts lost opener Kusal Perera early with the total on 13. Kumar Sangakkara hit a quickfire 75 not out in 45 deliveries.

Dilshan, who made an unbeaten 115 in the fourth match in Pallekele last Sunday, faced 110 deliveries and hit 12 boundaries before being bowled by seamer Ryan McLaren.

Thirimanne was out for 68 including six boundaries and a six during a 93-ball innings.

Earlier, Sri Lanka have won the toss and decided to bat.

Suranga Lakmal, Sachitra Senanayake, Angelo Perera and Kusal Perera came in for the hosts. Phangiso and McLaren came in for South Africa.

Teams:

Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kushal Janith Perera, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Thisara Perera, Angelo Mathews (captain), Angelo Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Sachithra Senanayake, Ajantha Mendis

South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Jean-Paul Duminy, AB de Villiers (captain & wk), Faf du Plessis, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Aaron Phangiso, Morne Morkel, Ryan McLaren, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

Brief scores
Sri Lanka 307/4 (Dilshan 99, Sangakkara 75*, Sangakkara 68)
South Africa 179 (de Villiers 51, Lakmal 3-24, Mendis 3-36)
Result Sri Lanka won by 128 runs
MOM Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka)
Player of the series Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)

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