South Africa 358 and 317 (Bavuma 66, Markram 55, Jayasuriya 5-129) Sri Lanka 328 and 238 (Dhananjay de Silva 50, Maharaj 5-76) by 109 runs
After fourteen balls, Rabada was rewarded for his accuracy and threat through the series with the wicket of the Sri Lankan captain. Dhananjay drove at a ball which took the edge of his bat and was caught behind the wicket.
There were no recognized batsmen left, so it was only a matter of time for Sri Lanka. Prabhat Jayasuriya’s eyes lit up when Maharaj produced a long-hop and tried to smoke it to the off side, but it fell to Temba Bavuma at extra cover. Sri Lanka reached the drinks break but in the second over after the interval, Vishwa Fernando hit the ball mid-air. Marco Jansson at mid-on had enough time to get down to it and take an easy catch. Jensen was given the ball in the next over and needed only a short ball to get rid of Lahiru Kumara, who swung hard and top-edged. Ryan Rickelton tested the catch with light turn at short midwicket and completed South Africa’s series win.
South Africa are now one win away from securing a place in next year’s final. They can get there with wins over Pakistan at home in the Boxing Day and New Year matches, their last matches of this cycle. Sri Lanka remain in the competition but will need to beat Australia at home early next year and hope other results go their way.
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