Pinpoint Proteas whitewash Lanka
Johannesburg, March 25: A tour that started with an unexpected Test series triumph ended with a second successive limited overs series humiliation for Sri Lanka when South Africa won the third and final Twenty20 international on Sunday.
South Africa made a daunting 198 for two and Sri Lanka were beaten by 45 runs according to the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method when they were bowled out for 137 as they chased a reduced target of 183 in 17 overs following a rain delay at the Wanderers Stadium.
It completed a 3-0 series sweep for South Africa, who also won a one-day series 5-0.
South Africa’s matchwinner on Sunday was allrounder Dwaine Pretorius, who took advantage of a promotion in the batting order with a power-packed innings of 77 not out off 42 balls. He followed up by breaking a rapid Sri Lankan first-wicket partnership of 42 when he trapped Dhananjaya de Silva with his first ball.
Opening batsman Niroshan Dickwella raced to 38 off 22 balls and Isuru Udana played another hard-hitting lower-order innings, hitting four sixes and making 36 before Sri Lanka lost their last four wickets for no runs.— AFP
■ Brief scores: South Africa 1982 in 20 overs (R. Hendricks 66, D. Pretorius 77 not out, J. Duminy 34 not out) bt Sri Lanka 137 in 15.4 (target 183 in 17 overs) (N. Dickwella 38, I. Udana 36; A. Phehlukwayo 4-34, L. Sipamla 222). South Africa won by 45 runs (Duckworth/ Lewis/ Stern method)