Proteas claim series victory

Hambantota: South Africa rode on aggressive hundreds from Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers to beat Sri Lanka by 82 runs in the third and final one-day international on Saturday.

Left-hander De Kock smashed a 127-ball 128 while skipper De Villiers hit a fiery 71-ball 108, making a century off just 66 balls, as South Africa posted their highest total against Sri Lanka of 339-5 in windy conditions at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota.

The Proteas then restricted the hosts to 257 in 44.3 overs for their first-ever one-day series win on the island by 2-1.

Sri Lanka, who needed their record one-day chase, had promised a positive chase by smacking 57 in the sixth over with Kusal Perera (37) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (30) but a middle order slump saw them lose Dilshan, Kumara Sangakkara (36) and Mahela Jayawardene (two) in the space of just six runs.

When Lahiru Thirimanne went for 22 to make it 151-5, Angelo Mathews (58) and Ashan Priyanjan (30) put up some resistance during their 83-run stand but the target proved too much for the hosts.

For South Africa paceman Ryan McLaren took 3-37 while Jean-Paul Duminy and Morne Morkel grabbed two wickets apiece.

Earlier De Kock put on 118 for the first wicket with Hashim Amla (48) and another 116 for the second with De Villiers.

De Kock, dropped at 38 off Sachithra Senanayake, reached his fifth one-day hundred with a sharp single off 108 balls.     
    
Breif scores:
South Africa 339 for five wickets (H. Amla 48; Q. de. Kock 128; AB. De Villiers 108; J.P. Duminy 29; A. Mendis 48/2, R. Herath 48/2) bt Sri Lanka: 257 in 44.3 overs (K. Perera 37; T. Dilshan 30; K. Sangakkara 36; A. Mathews 58; A. Priyanjan 30; M. Morkel 49/2, R. McLaren 37/3, J. Duminy 43/2).