Sri Lanka beat South Africa by 78 runs in the third ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium to seal the three-match series 2-1. They posted 203/9 after opting to bat, and then bowled out South Africa for just 125 in 30 overs.
Earlier, Keshav Maharaj (3-38) pinned Avishka Fernando leg before in the fourth over to give South Africa an ideal start. Three overs after, George Linde (2-32) removed Dinesh Chandimal in a similar fashion. Kamindu Mendis (16) did not last long either, and Sri Lanka were left struggling at 64/3.
Dhananjaya de Silva (31) and Charith Asalanka (47) added 29 to somewhat revive Sri Lanka. However, they failed to establish a substantial partnership, as Aiden Markram had de Silva caught behind in the 20th over to give South Africa a much-needed breakthrough.
Wickets fell at regular intervals after de Silva’s departure, and Sri Lanka slipped from 93/3 to 166/8. Charith Asalanka made 47, and Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, and the debutant Maheesh Theekshana all chipped in with useful contributions to take Sri Lanka past 200.
Coming to the chase, Janneman Malan struck the opening ball of the innings, bowled by Chameera, for four to get South Africa off to a positive start. But he was caught at first slip in the next over when he tried to defend Praveen Jayawickrama.
South Africa kept losing wickets after that. Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen fell inside five overs. Malan was the next to fall, in the 10th over, and Wiaan Mulder, an over later.
Klaasen looked promising during his 30-ball stay, but Theekshana trapped him leg before in the 16th over to leave South Africa reeling on 54/6. Their chances of winning from there looked bleak. Linde and Maharaj then contributed with bat to help their side avoid a humiliating total before they were all out with 20 overs to spare.
The two will now play a three-match T20I series, starting 10 September. All matches will take place in Colombo.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 203/9 in 50 overs (Charith Asalanka 47; Keshav Maharaj 3-38) beat South Africa 125 in 30 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 22; Maheesh Theekshana 4-37) by 78 runs. Player of the Match: Dushmantha Chameera.
Sri Lanka won the series 2-1. Player of the Series: Charith Asalanka.