Proteas elect to bat

South Africa's captain AB de Villiers won the toss and elected to bat in the crucial third one-day international against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. Photo by AFP PHOTO/Ishara S. KODIKARA/Gallo Images

South Africa's captain AB de Villiers won the toss and elected to bat in the crucial third one-day international against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. Photo by AFP PHOTO/Ishara S. KODIKARA/Gallo Images

Published Jul 26, 2013

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Pallekele, Sri Lanka -

South Africa's captain AB de Villiers won the toss and elected to bat in the crucial third one-day international against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Friday.

The Proteas, trailing 2-0 in the five-match series, were without star batsman Hashim Amla, who failed to recover from a knee injury suffered in the previous game in Colombo.

Amla was replaced by Quinton de Kock, while Farhaan Behardien and Lonwabo Tsotsobe came in for Aaron Phangiso and Chris Morris in a match South Africa must win to stay afloat in the series.

Angelo Mathews was back to lead Sri Lanka for the first time in the series after serving a two-match suspension for his team's slow over-rates during the recent tri-series in the West Indies.

The hosts also made three changes, with Mathews, Ajantha Mendis and debutant batsman Angelo Perera replacing Shaminda Eranga, Lahiru Thirimanne and Jehan Mubarak.

Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Perera, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Thisara Perera.

South Africa: AB de Villiers (capt), Alviro Petersen, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) and Ranmore Martinesz (SRI) TV umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS) Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM) - Sapa-AFP

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