A dominant Sri Lanka sealed the ODI series 4-1 with a comfortable 128 run victory against South Africa at the R Premadasa stadium.
With the series already decided, Sri Lanka had decided to use the final ODI as opportunity to rest some of their seniors and give the youngsters a go. It made no difference, as the Sri Lankans blasted their way to an extremely well paced 307 before the South African batsman flopped dismally in the face of a relatively inexperienced bowling attack.
A highlight of the Sri Lankan batting this series -and a major difference between them and the Proteas- is how well they have paced their innings: Starting of circumspectly, setting up a platform, and then accelerating at the end. Each fifty came quicker than the previous one, and it was a showcase of almost the perfect ODI innings.
In the absence of Upul Tharanga and Mahela Jayawardene, Kusal Perera was given yet another opportunity to open the innings. He disappointed yet again, getting out before reaching double figures. Sri Lanka reacted positively by sending in Lahiru Thirimanne before Kumar Sangakkara. Thirimanne has looked out of sorts down the order, and has stated that he would be comfortable coming in earlier. Given a chance to back his words with action, he responded very well, hitting a well crafted 68. The extra time available to settle in obviously helped him, and after a while he began unfurling some classy strokes reminiscent of the man who normally bats in that position. He finally fell while trying to accelerate the scoring, and that too took a brilliant piece of fielding by JP Duminy.
At the other end, TM Dilshan continued in his reinvented style, playing a risk free innings to guide Sri Lanka to the late overs. His age may be beginning to tell on him though, as he looked visibly tired as the innings progressed. A quickly run two to get him onto 99 had him on his haunches for a while, and he was unable to get Ryan McLaren away for the rest of the over, eventually being bowled off the last ball, one run short of what would have been a well deserved century.
The most memorable innings of the match belonged to Sangakkara, however. Coming in after the 30th over, he played a great knock that managed to combine class with audacity and inventiveness. Dancing around the crease and throwing the bowlers off their line and length, Sangakkara was instrumental in getting Sri Lanka past the 300 mark. On a sluggish pitch under lights, the total must have seemed very daunting to the Proteas.
The Lankan bowlers got off to a poor start, both Suranga Lakmal and Angelo Mathews bowling far too short. The South Africans kept pace with the required rate for the first five overs, but once spin was introduced, their batting started to fall apart. Sachithra Senanayake got the wickets of the two openers, including that of their main batsman Hashim Amla, before Dilshan had Duminy trapped in front. The middle order’s woes continued as Du Plessis, Miller and Berhardien all fell in quick succession. AB De Villiers played a lone hand, hitting a fighting half century, but the damage had already been done. The Proteas were eventually bowled out for 179, a dismal end to a dismal series. Sri Lanka will be aware that they have their experienced top order to thank for the victories, but will walk away satisfied with the overall outcome.
Dilshan was named man of the match while Sangakkara took the award for Man of the Series.
