A superb 74 from Tilakratne Dilshan coupled with cameos from Mahela Jayawardene and Thissara Perera powered Sri Lanka won the final Twenty20 international against South Africa by six wickets in Hambantota on Tuesday to retain their number one ranking in the shortest format.
South Africa bowlers once again proved their worth as they defended 145, beat Sri Lanka by 22 runs in 2nd Twenty20 at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium here on Sunday.
JP Duminy hit a fighting hundred and then returned to pick up 3 wickets as South Africa sneaked through by 12 runs.
Lakmal 3-24, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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) helps Sri Lanka inflicted a huge 180 run defeat on South Africa at the Premadasa stadium in Colombo on Saturday.
