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South Africa's JP Duminy (right) plays a shot as Sri Lanka's wicket keeper Kumar Sangakkara looks on during their third one-day international cricket match in Bloemfontein.
Bloemfontein - South Africa won the third one-day international against Sri Lanka by four runs, according to the Duckworth-Lewis method, in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
They also won the five-match series 3-0, giving AB de Villiers a win in his maiden series as captain.
When heavy rain brought an early conclusion to the match, South Africa were 179 for five after 34 overs.
At the start of the last over, they were three runs behind the required run rate but Lasith Malinga bowled a loose over, conceding eight runs, including a wide.
Earlier, Malinga had started magnificently, taking two wickets for 12 runs off his first spell (4-1-12-2), bowling out both Graeme Smith (2) and Colin Ingram (13) leaving the Proteas wobbling on 29 for two.
Tillakartne Dilshan then stuck with his first ball, trapping Alviro Petersen lbw for 17, after an unsuccessful reverse sweep.
Faf du Plessis, coming in at four, and JP Duminy combined for a much-needed 61-run partnership before Duminy was run out. A controversial decision as the television replays were not totally conclusive and the batsman was unlucky not to be given the benefit of the doubt.
Be that as it may, Duminy was given out, but he continued to hang around in the middle. When he finally started to walk, he looked up to the team balcony and stopped, seemingly getting a different instruction from his coach. The umpire had to ask him to leave the field.
Du Plessis was also run out after a match-saving 72 runs, but as he was suffering from cramps, he left the crease without any further arguments.
AB de Villiers, who possibly tried one experiment too many in only his third match as captain, batted with Albie Morkel and the pair secured the winning runs, conscious of the onset of rain.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, the Sri Lankans enjoyed their best opening partnership of the series, and the tour, losing their first wicket on 94.
It was the spinners who made the initial breakthrough, taking the first two wickets.
Robin Peterson ended Upal Tharanga’s innings of 58 (50 off 54 balls) after he carelessly top-edged an attempted sweep to Colin Ingram at short fine-leg.
Duminy redeemed himself, after Tharanga had hit him for two sixes earlier, when Dale Steyn took a tumbling catch to get rid of Dilshan (33), who had played an uncharacteristically patient innings.
Kumar Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal put on a 57-ball 50 for the third-wicket, before Chandimal was run out by Faf du Plessis, who uprooted the stumps with an electric throw from backward point.
Sangakkara seemed to have finally regained his flair and had batted magnificently for his 38.
Colin Ingram ended any hopes of Mahela Jayawardene proving he too had remembered how to bat, with another direct hit at the stumps.
The Proteas’ fielding went from one extreme to the other - at times brilliant and at other times shoddy. They dropped several catches, two of which were put down by captain AB De Villiers behind the stumps.
At the end of their 50 overs, they made 266 for nine, losing a wicket on the last ball to another run out. - Sapa
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Spock101, wrote
@ Carlo, I don't know about degrees etc when it come to bowling but I SO NOT understand how someone who is virtually throwing an underarm ball can be said to be bowling a legal delivery when someone like Johan Botha, whose arm is nowhere near Malinga's can't bowl certain balls because it's deemed to be throwing? As was also noted, at one stage Muries action was also questioned. As far as I, and it would appear many others, am concerned, Malinga is a chucker NOT a bowler and should not be allowed onto a cricket pitch. The fact he is allowed in just NOT cricket!
Jay, wrote
The DL system has hurt us so many times in the past, I am glad personally that this has for once worked for us! Smiths struggling form needs to be addressed now chaps, really time to bring in some new exciting talent. Should he prove himself domestically, then by all means let's have him back. Shaky fielding concerns me when we all looking for a convincing win to stamp our authority on both the series and make a statement to the cricketing world. Watch out Sri Lank for a team that now does not have pressure and a series win under the belt. SA with talent and nothing to use...expect carnage!
Susan, wrote
Yay, for once the Duckworth Lewis system worked in our favour. As for Malinga .. he should be known as Slinga Malinga! Years ago there were complaints about Muralitharan just chucking the ball.
Anonymous, wrote
nice 1 by the Proteas bt i think its high time that Smith should leave the ODI team cos has out of form 4 long now
carlo, wrote
@ john and mike u guys obviously dont know the science behind the bowling actions of player how many degrees your arm should be bent etc, but let me assure you that malinga's action is legal and it has been tested, however he is very one dimensional if he bowls, you know its gona be a full ball, as for smith really now he must go now bring in levi now before we tour over seas, smith is gona cost us victoies abroad
Anonymous, wrote
GF, wrote
Why is it not "The Dreaded" DL system when it favours South Africa? Malinga's bowling action has been investigated and cleared. I was disappointed that South Africa referred 2 run outs to the 3rd umpire and still did not want to accept the decision, that is not cricket. I think all umpiring decisions should be by the umpires, even the impressive looking Hawkeye is a computer model of what might have happened, I don't see how it can know the exact pitch condition on the square millimetre where the ball hits.
Anonymous, wrote
I am happy the Proteas won the match.......but I am worried about how we always falter when we are under pressure. If Sri Lanka didnt field badly lst night - they should have won the match. I am worried about our run chasing - we crack under pressure!
John Shepherd, wrote
The more I watch Malinga the more I'm convinced he is throwing or slinging the ball. Yet they had the gall to accuse Botha of illegal bowling.
Mike, wrote
Malinga has an illegal action. Throwing, slinging whatever. And John Botha is suspect? What a joke. Also, too many run outs. Gary, dont become one of the boys - fine them for run outs.
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