THURSDAY, 6.20PM:
SOUTH AFRICA ended Sri Lanka’s nine-match unbeaten record today, winning by 66 runs. But the Wills series final still lies ahead on Saturday, when the Sri Lankans, who were without three key players in this game, will make sure to avenge themselves.
Hero of the match was Lance Klusener, who scored a fast 54 off just 41 balls, the best South African score, then took six wickets for 49 runs. Although Klusener was one of the few South African batsman to shine (the others were Kirsten and Cronje with 50 each), the combined score of 311 was the team’s best in the Wills series.
The Sri Lankans were soon in trouble, going five wickets down in 17 overs, for just 70. But Sanjeewa de Silva (57) and Kumara Dharmesena (69 not out) set off a late rally.
The squads:
SOUTH AFRICA:
Gary Kirsten, Andrew Hudson, Adam Bacher, Daryll Cullinan, Hansie Cronje (captain), Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollcck, Lance Klusener, Dave Richardson, Pat Symcox, Fanie de Villiers, Allan Donald, Paul Adams.
SRI LANKA:
Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Roshan Mahanama, Arjuna Ranatunga (captain), Aravinda de Silva, Hashan Tillekeratne, Kumara Dharmesena, Muttiah Muralitheran, Lanka de Silva, Chamida Vaas, Sanjeewa de Silva, Dulip Liyanage, Upul Chandana, Russell Arnold.
South Africa
AC Hudson c SKL de Silva b Liyanage 10
G Kirsten c Arnold b PA de Silva 50
L Klusener c Atapattu b Dharmasena 54
DJ Cullinan c Liyanage b Chandana 36
WJ Cronje c Chandana b PA de Silva 50
JN Rhodes c & b Dharmasena 24
SM Pollock c Arnold b Dharmasena 37
DJ Richardson c Ranatunga b KSC de Silva 5
PL Symcox not out 22
PS de Villiers b KSC de Silva 6
PR Adams not out 0
Extras (b 5, lb 2, w 7, nb 3) 17
Total (9 wickets, 50 overs) 311
Sri Lanka
MS Atapattu c Pollock b Klusener 25
RP Arnold c Richardson b Pollock 11
RS Mahanama lbw b Klusener 9
PA de Silva c Symcox b Klusener 6
HP Tillakaratne not out 8
A Ranatunga lbw b Klusener 0
SKL de Silva lbw b de Villiers 57
HDPK Dharmasena not out 65
UDU Chandana c Rhodes b Klusener 2
DK Liyanage c & b Klusener 22
KSC de Silva not out 5
Extras (lb 9, w 17, nb 4) 30
Total (9 wickets, 50 overs) 245