Cricket: South Africa choke as Sri Lanka record sensational win

Tourists register two-wicket win in final ODI but hosts take series 3-2.

Sachithra Senanayake hit a six off the penultimate delivery as Sri Lanka recorded a sensational two-wicket win over South Africa in the fifth and final One-Day International (ODI) at the New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg to salvage some pride as the hosts took the series 3-2.

Robin Peterson bowled the final over with six to get and he obliged, taking the wickets of Nuwan Kulasekara and then Lahiru Thirimanne before Senanayake’s strike took the tourists past the 313-run target. Thirimanne had held the innings together, hitting 69 to help his team’s cause after left-hander Kuman Sangakkara had given the innings a boost with a superb ton — the 12th of his ODI career.

Thirimanne put on 100 for the fourth wicket with Sangakkara before the former captain lost his wicket.

It was a disappointing day, however, for South Africa captain AB de Villiers and Graeme Smith. While the left-hander hit his first ODI century since 2009, de Villiers made a whirlwind 125 to provide the innings the final boost as South Africa crossed the 300-run mark. De Villiers hit his 12th ODI century but for the second successive time South Africa failed to defend a competitive total.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd,  2012.