Tangiers, Morocco - Jacques Kallis hit 84 as South Africa survived early blows to score 220-6 from 50 overs against a depleted Sri Lankan attack in the Morocco Cup here on Monday.
Kallis added 78 for the sixth wicket with Lance Klusener to steer South Africa out of trouble after a three-wicket burst by leg-spinner Upul Chandana reduced them to 119-5 in the 29th over.
Klusener remained unbeaten on 39 and Shaun Pollock made a quickfire 16 off nine balls as South Africa added 59 runs in the final eight overs.
The last league match of the event holds only academic interest as both South Africa and Sri Lanka have already qualified for Wednesday's final at Pakistan's expense.
Sri Lanka rested four frontline bowlers - Chaminda Vaas, Pulasthi Gunaratne, Muttiah Muralitharan and Dilhara Fernando - to enable the younger players get an outing in the middle.
South Africa also omitted four key players - wicket-keeper Mark Boucher, Jonty Rhodes, Allan Donald and Nicky Boje - and nominated Boeta Dippenaar to don the gloves.
Young seamer Charitha Buddika made an immediate impression by removing Herschelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten with his first 13 deliveries.
Graeme Smith and Kallis retrieved the situation with a 71-run stand for the third wicket, before Chandana hit back with three quick wickets.
The leg-spinner bowled Smith for 40, had Dippenaar caught behind for 18 and then drew Justin Ontong out of the crease to have him stumped by Kumar Sangakkara.
Chandana capped a fine display in the field by catching Kallis on the long-off fence off Sanath Jayasuriya.
South Africa:
G. Smith b Chandana 40
H. Gibbs c Arnold b Buddika 1
G. Kirsten b Buddika 1
J. Kallis c Chandana b Jayasuriya 84
B. Dippenaar c Sangakkara b Chandana 18
J. Ontong st Sangakkara b Chandana 7
L. Klusener not out 39
S. Pollock not out 16
Extras: (lb1, nb2, w11) 14
Total (for six wickets) 220
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-11, 3-82, 4-108, 5-119, 6-197
Bowling: Buddika 9-2-43-2, Gamage 6-0-23-0, H. Fernando 5-0-26-0, Chandana 10-0-32-3, De Silva 10-0-52-0, Jayasuriya 10-0-43-1
Overs: 50
Umpires: Srinivas Venkataraghvan (Ind) and Simon Taufel (Aus)
Third umpire: Daryl Harper (Aus)
Match referee: Gundappa Viswanath (Ind) - Sapa- AFP