South Africa 164-3 (de Villiers 60no) beat
Sri Lanka 163 (Dickwella 74) by seven wickets
Third One-Day International in Johannesburg
Scorecard

A collective bowling performance from South Africa dismissed Sri Lanka for 163 following which AB de Villiers led the chase with an unbeaten 60 to secure a seven-wicket win for the Proteas in the third One-Day International in Johannesburg, thereby claiming the series 3-0.

South Africa opted to field first on winning the toss. Niroshan Dickwella (74) and Upul Tharanga (31) got the visitors off to a flying start of 26 for naught in four overs.

In the sixth over bowled by Chris Morris (1-38), Tharanga was put down in the slips following the boundaries kept coming for Sri Lanka as the duo completed the 50-run opening stand in 55 deliveries.

South Africa continued to remain sloppy in the field as JP Duminy (0-17) dropped a chance of Dickwella in the 12th over but Kagiso Rabada (2-39) dismissed Tharanga in the next delivery, ending the 60-run opening stand.

Andile Phehlukwayo (2-26) halted Sri Lanka's progress when he removed both Kusal Mendis (4) and Dinesh Chandimal (4) in quick succession as Dickwella reached his fifty off 53 deliveries.

Morris joined the destruction act as he had Dhananjaya de Silva (16) caught in the slips in the 25th over following which the play was delayed by a hour because of bees on the ground.

On resumption, Sri Lanka lost their plot completely after losing the remaining six wickets for just 38 runs and were bowled out for 163. Dwaine Pretorious (3-19) was the pick of the South African bowlers while Imran Tahir (2-21), Rabada and Phehlukwayo picked two wickets apiece.

In the chase, Quinton de Kock (8) was castled early by Lahiru Kumara (1-49). Faf du Plessis (24) looked positive but Sri Lanka dropped Hashim Amla (34) in the seventh over.

The pair added 35 runs between them before Lahiru Madushanka (1-15) had du Plessis caught at backward point. De Villiers (60 not out) kept the run-rate going as he along with Amla took the Proteas close to 100.

However, Sri Lanka picked their third wicket when Amla ran for a non-existing single and was caught at short of the crease at non strikers end.

Any chance of Sri Lanka making a comeback was put to rest after de Villiers along with JP Duminy (28 not out) got the team through with an unbeaten 72 run stand for the fourth wicket. In the process the South African captain also reached his 49th ODI fifty.

With the win, South Africa have also sealed the series 3-0 with two more games to go. Pretorious was awarded the player of the match.

© Cricket World 2017