SA beat SL by 78 runs | South Africa vs Sri Lanka, Highlights And Cricket Score 3rd ODI Match - Commentary

A massive target to chase. Stating the obvious, a fast start will be essential. The Lankans won't find it easy though. There has been movement for the pacers as shown in the first innings and you can be sure Rabada and Ngidi will come out firing. A stern challenge awaits the home side. Join us in a short while for all the action.

This is a high-scoring surface, no doubt, but even this might be out of Sri Lanka's reach. The last 5 overs cost them 71 runs. That says a lot in itself. Everyone went for runs. Well, almost everyone, including their best bowler Thisara Perera. He picked up 4 wickets but went for a lot in the death overs. Lahiru Kumara was quite good, picking up 2 for himself conceding just 67, which isn't bad at all, all things considered. Cannot say much else for the rest.

The Proteas will feel they have enough on the board. Surely. This is their highest score in Sri Lanka and third highest in Asia. And that's happened because of a collective batting performance. Hashim Amla's fifty at the beginning, Reeza Hendricks' stunning ton on debut, which was followed up by two blazing knocks from JP Duminy (who missed his century by just 8 runs) and David Miller (who made a responsible fifty), with the finishing touches being added by Andile Phehlukwayo. Everyone came to the fore, leaving no stone unturned in powering the touring side past 360.

Akila Dananjaya to Willem Mulder. OUT! Akila strikes on the final ball of the innings. Somewhat fortunate for him. Bowls it full on leg, a leg spinner, Mulder clears his front leg to go big on the leg side. Gets an inside edge onto his left boot and the ball gently rolls behind to knock the bails over. SOUTH AFRICA FINISH ON 363/7!

Akila Dananjaya to Willem Mulder. Wide! Another one. As if South Africa already didn't have enough on the board. Too far outside off this time, across the tramline and it's another wide.

Akila Dananjaya to Andile Phehlukwayo. Two wides! Darted too far outside off, Andile lets it be. Dickwella can't collect and the batsmen take a run. Wide signalled too.

Akila Dananjaya to Willem Mulder. Mulder gives it the full swing of the bat and gets it through to deep mid-wicket. Gets to the other end comfortably.

Akila Dananjaya to Andile Phehlukwayo. Cannot connect cleanly this time. Steps out and hits it through covers. One run taken.

Akila Dananjaya to Andile Phehlukwayo. Wide! Fired down the leg side on a full length, left alone.

Akila Dananjaya to Andile Phehlukwayo. SIX! Maximum! Terrific start to the over from Phehlukwayo. Sees the flight on the ball, gives the charge and lifts it nicely over the long on boundary.

Akila Dananjaya to Andile Phehlukwayo. FOUR! Full toss and Phehlukwayo has dispatched it from his sight. Loopy full toss on the stumps, the southpaw gets into position to play the reverse sweep and clears point. Nobody out there square in the deep, another boundary.

Akila Dananjaya to Willem Mulder. Flat, short and keeps low outside off, Mulder cuts it into the off side and brings Andile on strike.

Thisara Perera to Andile Phehlukwayo. The batsman has punched that ball through the off side. Two runs added to the total. A mixed day for Thisara. He had a superb opening spell where he had returns of 6-0-26-2, but finishes with figures of 4/75 in 10.

Thisara Perera to Andile Phehlukwayo. FOUR! Serves a low full toss well outside off, Andile throws his bat at it and carves it through backward point. Into the gap and that's a boundary.

Willem Mulder walks out next to bat.

Thisara Perera to David Miller. OUT! Miller scores a fifty and then departs! A low full toss, Miller tries to get underneath it again and clear mid-wicket. Can't do it cleanly enough and he hands over a catch to de Silva out in the deep. He's set South Africa up perfectly towards the end, as is expected from him.

Thisara Perera to David Miller. SIX! 11th ODI fifty for David Miller! Gets to the milestone in style. Slower one from Thisara again and Miller picks it up once more. Gets under it and sends it sailing deep into the mid-wicket stands for half a dozen.

Thisara Perera to David Miller. FOUR! Fuller and slower outside off, Miller takes the aerial route and bangs it over covers for a boundary.

Thisara Perera to Andile Phehlukwayo. Loud shout from Thisara for a leg before. Clearly missing leg though. Outside the line of leg stump too. Yorker on leg, Phehlukwayo looks to flick it away but misses to get caught on the pads. Good call from the umpire. The batsmen also take a leg bye as the ball rolls to the leg side.

Akila Dananjaya to David Miller. Miller steps out and gets himself yorked as Akila fires it on his boots. He still manages to dig it out down towards long on. Picks up a couple.

Akila Dananjaya to Andile Phehlukwayo. Pushed away down to long off for a single.

Akila Dananjaya to Andile Phehlukwayo. Andile reverse sweeps it towards short third man. Surprisingly, Miller doesn't get to the other end.

Akila Dananjaya to David Miller. Miller gets low early and places the sweep through the square leg area for one more.

Akila Dananjaya to David Miller. Darted full and fast on off, dug out back to the bowler. Dot ball.

Akila Dananjaya to Andile Phehlukwayo. Full in line of the stumps, worked behind square leg for a run.

Akila Dananjaya back on.

Thisara Perera to Andile Phehlukwayo. Shaping back in on middle and leg, nudged through backward square leg. One run to the total.

Thisara Perera to Andile Phehlukwayo. FOUR! Good placement from Phehlukwayo. Short ball on off, Andile ramps it over the vacant slip cordon. Kumara is out there at third man, but he's a bit lazy in getting to the ball. Concedes a boundary because of it.

Thisara Perera to David Miller. Good length delivery outside off, it's run down to third man for a single.

Andile Phehlukwayo is next in. Surprisingly, no Mulder.

Thisara Perera to JP Duminy. OUT! Duminy holes out! Oh, how unfortunate for him. He's just missed out on his century. Could have had his first one since 2015. Full on middle and off, JP moves across and looks to hammer this over the mid-wicket boundary. Doesn't exactly get underneath it and he sends it straight down the throat of Dhananjaya de Silva who makes no mistake in taking it. JP's gone, but he's done more than his share.

Thisara Perera to David Miller. Played through mid-wicket by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Thisara Perera to David Miller. Full toss outside off, hit firmly through the covers for a brace.

Suranga Lakmal to JP Duminy. Good work from Prabath by the rope. Saves a couple of runs for his side. Back of a length outside off, Duminy cracks this through cover-point. The fielder out there covers good ground to his right and makes a tumbling stop. Two taken. 23 off the over. Massive one for the Proteas.

Suranga Lakmal to JP Duminy. SIX! 4, 4, 6, 6 so far. Duminy doesn't look like he plans on stopping any time soon either. Length ball on the stumps, it's smoked over mid-wicket. Clears the fence with ease as the fielder out there can only watch.

Suranga Lakmal to JP Duminy. SIX! Oh, you beauty! A century on the cards for Duminy? Sure looks like it. Lakmal dishes out a full toss from around the wicket, it's angling in and Duminy just murders this over deep backward square leg for a flat biggie.

Suranga Lakmal to JP Duminy. FOUR! Another one. Fuller around off, Duminy picks up the slower one and jumps out of the crease. Lofts it over a leaping Mendis at extra cover and finds the fence. The 300 is up with this. South Africa might just get to 350 like this. Maybe more.

Suranga Lakmal to JP Duminy. FOUR! Just a wild hack from JP Duminy and it's gone to the boundary rope. Low full toss around leg, he clears his front leg, swings his bat hard and gets enough power on it to beat deep backward square leg.

Suranga Lakmal to David Miller. Takes the pace off this one with a cutter on middle and leg, Miller taps it down in front of point and takes a quick one.

Suranga Lakmal to bowl now.

Thisara Perera to JP Duminy. FOUR! Streaky runs! Angling in on middle and off, on a slightly shorter length, it goes off the inside edge as he tries to push and it races to the fine leg fence.

Thisara Perera to David Miller. Tame appeal, not given. Fuller around off, from around the wicket, goes off Miller's pads as he tries to flick. On the off side and that's a leg bye.

Thisara Perera to JP Duminy. Good job from Dhananjaya. Back of a length around off, going across, Duminy muscles the pull through mid-wicket. De Silva out in the deep moves to his right and does well to stick his hand out and stop it.

Thisara Perera to David Miller. Just the single this time. Another one clipped into the leg side.

Thisara Perera to David Miller. Two more. Miller uses the depth of the crease and clips this behind square on the leg side.

Thisara Perera to David Miller. Gentle medium pace on middle and leg, Miller takes a step out of his crease before flicking it through to deep mid-wicket for a double.

Thisara Perera returns.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. Faster one on middle and leg, Duminy closes the face a little early and gets a safe leading edge to the left of the bowler.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. FOUR! Shot. This is superb batting from JP Duminy. Sees the ball tossed up wide outside off so brings the reverse sweep out again. Connects with it on this occasion and clears short third man. Another boundary.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. SIX! Duminy has just bludgeoned this! Floated around off, he just gives it the full swing of his bat and gets a lot of power behind it. Right off the meat and it sails deep into the mid-wicket stands for a biggie.

Akila Dananjaya to David Miller. Knocks the full ball down to long on and takes another run.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. Sweeps it away on the leg side and gets to the other end.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. FOUR BYES! Bonus runs for South Africa. Tossed up wide outside off, Duminy positions himself to play the reverse sweep but misses it altogether. The keeper misses as well and the ball races away to the boundary. Not sure why it wasn't given a wide, it clearly went from the other side of the tramline.

Dhananjaya de Silva to David Miller. Stays back and stabs it out off the back foot.

Dhananjaya de Silva to David Miller. Sliding in on leg, catches Miller on the pads who fails to get bat on ball. Always missing leg.

Dhananjaya de Silva to David Miller. FOUR! That's muscled away! Short, flat and around off, Miller rocks onto the back foot in a flash and heaves it through mid-wicket. There is the man in the deep, but once again he has no chance of stopping that.

Dhananjaya de Silva to David Miller. Closes the face and works it towards mid-wicket.

Dhananjaya de Silva to David Miller. Loopy and full, the off break around off, Miller prods forward and defends it in front of cover.

Dhananjaya de Silva to David Miller. FOUR! Goes against the turn and still gets the result! Tossed up on off, Miller kneels down and already knows what he wants to do. Brings the broom and sweeps it well past the deep mid-wicket fielder for a boundary.

Akila Dananjaya to David Miller. Flatter and shorter on the stumps, pulled down towards long on for a single.

Akila Dananjaya to David Miller. Not out! The review is lost. Not their fault though, difficult to tell. Barely grazed the glove there. Floated on middle and leg, spinning away slightly and catching Miller on the pads who gets low to sweep. Loud shout, it's turned down and the review is taken by Mathews because it looks close. It's taken upstairs and replays show some glove. So Miller is safe.

Review taken. It's against an lbw decision with David Miller in question.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. Advances down the track and lofts it simply over the covers. One run to the total.

Akila Dananjaya to David Miller. Goes on the back foot and works it through backward square leg for a single.

Akila Dananjaya to David Miller. Drifting in on middle and leg, worked to mid-wicket.

Akila Dananjaya to David Miller. A lot of flight on this one, Miller gets low to this one and reverse sweeps it on the full to backward point.

Dhananjaya de Silva to JP Duminy. A rare and precious dot ball for Sri Lanka. De Silva pushes this quicker and drifts it in, JP pokes at it and gets it off the inside edge to short fine leg.

Dhananjaya de Silva to David Miller. The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Dhananjaya de Silva to JP Duminy. Takes a step out of the crease and punches the flatter ball to long off. One more run.

Dhananjaya de Silva to David Miller. Third single in as many balls. Miller works it through backward square leg and crosses over.

Dhananjaya de Silva to JP Duminy. Turned away into the leg side for one more.

Dhananjaya de Silva to David Miller. Leans ahead to this flighted ball and knocks it towards mid off for a brisk run.

Powerplay 3 has been signalled. A maximum of 5 fielders will be allowed outside the 30-yard circle till the end of the innings. Also, Dhananjaya de Silva comes back on.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. Worked away to mid-wicket. No run taken.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. 27th ODI fifty for JP Duminy. He's done well to find some form and rhythm in this series. Came out today with an attacking intent as well and has paced his knock well. Drives this through the covers for two more and gets to the milestone.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. Loopy and full outside off, JP drags the sweep through square leg and comes back for the second.

Akila Dananjaya to David Miller. Easy single picked up. Miller works it towards square leg and calls his partner through.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. Full and slightly faster through the air on the pads, Duminy gets low and sweeps it along the carpet to deep backward square leg. Gets off strike with a single.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. Wide! Tossed up from around the wicket, down the leg side, wide called.

Akila Dananjaya brought back into the bowling attack.

Thisara Perera to David Miller. Dot ball but 14 runs have come off this one. The biggest of the innings so far. Shortish on off, Miller gets an inside edge back onto his pads as he tries to play at it.

Thisara Perera to David Miller. FOUR! Another boundary and that's a poor delivery from Thisara Perera. Half-volley on the pads, Miller says thank you and flicks it well through the big gap in the mid-wicket area. Runs coming thick and fast for South Africa.

Thisara Perera to David Miller. FOUR! Uppish but Miller has found the fence. Full and wide outside off, David plants his front foot across, leans into the shot and drives it aerially just wide of mid off. The fielder there moves to his right, puts in a desperate dive to stop it but can't.

Thisara Perera to JP Duminy. Short ball down the leg side, pulled down to fine leg. Single to the total.

Thisara Perera to JP Duminy. FOUR! Picked his spot and executed his shot to perfection. Duminy gives the charge to this length ball and lofts it over backward square leg. There is a man out there in the deep, but the placement is such that he can't get to it. Nicely done.

Thisara Perera to David Miller. The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. The batsmen have run through for a single.

Thisara Perera is called back into the attack.

Suranga Lakmal to David Miller. Cutting across on a good length, on off, David Miller plays this very late as he steers it past the diving point fielder. One run to end the over.

Suranga Lakmal to David Miller. Pushes this full delivery to the man positioned at cover.

Suranga Lakmal to David Miller. On the fuller side of the length, in line of the stumps, driven tamely to mid on.

A slip in place.

Suranga Lakmal to JP Duminy. Around the wicket to JP, a length ball outside off. He punches it on the up by getting on top of the bounce. Through the covers and another single results.

Suranga Lakmal to David Miller. Walks a step across to this length ball and wrists it to deep mid-wicket to rotate strike.

Suranga Lakmal to JP Duminy. Fuller in length and keeps it outside off, driven neatly through the big gap in the cover region for one run.

Lahiru Kumara to David Miller. Full and outside off, driven towards wide mid off.

Lahiru Kumara to David Miller. Some extra bounce on this, raps Miller high on the thigh pad.

Lahiru Kumara to JP Duminy. That was close. Kumara bowls a back of a length delivery on off, Duminy is taken by surprise by the lack of bounce and barely manages to get it off the inner half on his pull shot. It's through towards fine leg and the batsmen take one.

Lahiru Kumara to JP Duminy. Going across, just around off, blocked out safely towards mid off.

Lahiru Kumara to David Miller. Uses the wrists and turns this fuller length ball to deep square leg. A single is collected.

Lahiru Kumara to David Miller. Jagging back in from a good length, on middle and leg, raps Miller high on the thigh pad as he tries to work it across the line.

Suranga Lakmal to JP Duminy. FOUR! Lakmal switches the angle for Duminy but it does him no good. Hurls it wide outside off on a shorter length, JP places the cut to perfection. Behind point and wide enough of third man as he can't cut it off after moving to his left.

Suranga Lakmal to David Miller. Angles across a good length ball, Miller plants his front foot forward and punches it through the covers for a single. Gets off the mark.

Suranga Lakmal to David Miller. Fuller and straighter in line, driven to mid on.

Suranga Lakmal to David Miller. Sharp bouncer on off, takes Miller by surprise who takes a step out of the crease before arching back to evade it.

Suranga Lakmal to David Miller. Short of a good length close to off, Miller mistimes the cut shot. Off the bottom edge and the ball falls on the off side.

Suranga Lakmal to JP Duminy. No real damage done on this, despite it being a full toss. Not sure why Duminy didn't throw the kitchen sink at it. On the stumps, it's just pushed down to mid off for a run.

Free Hit coming up...

Suranga Lakmal to JP Duminy. No ball! Length delivery outside off, Duminy cuts it square on the off side. Lakmal has overstepped on this occasion, so the umpire signals a no ball.

Suranga Lakmal is on again.

Lahiru Kumara to David Miller. Length ball and it's defended with the full face of the bat. End of a successful over from Kumara.

David Miller to bat next. The platform is set. He just has to do what he does best - kill it towards the end.

Lahiru Kumara to Reeza Hendricks. OUT! Hundred and he's out of here! What a ball from Lahiru Kumara. He was brought back into the attack for just this purpose and he's delivered. Length ball on the stumps with a hint of reverse on this. Just about does enough as it whiskers past the inside edge and takes the leg bail. Reeza Hendricks is gone, he'll be disappointed he couldn't push on but he's played a blinder here. The partnership of 78 comes to a close.

Lahiru Kumara to Reeza Hendricks. FOUR! MAIDEN ODI TON FOR REEZA HENDRICKS! What a knock. Third South African to score a ton on debut. He's been flawless ever since he's walked out to bat. Scored runs all around the park and got to a deserved century. Back of a length on leg, Hendricks moves inside the line and plays this aerially over backward square leg. Fine leg moves to his left but can't reach it. He'll want to go on and accelerate now.

Lahiru Kumara to Reeza Hendricks. FOUR! Brilliant. Right on top of that. Width offered outside off, on a length, Hendricks crashes this from within his crease and sends it across the cover fence for a boundary.

Lahiru Kumara to JP Duminy. Sprays it on the pads, it's worked away on the leg side for one more.

Lahiru Kumara to Reeza Hendricks. Back of a length delivery angling in around off, Hendricks with a little swivel pulls it along the ground through mid-wicket for a single.

Lahiru Kumara is back on.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. Flights it this time, landing full on middle, Reeza goes on the back foot and turns it through mid-wicket for one. Two from the over.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. Quicker and flatter on middle, Hendricks defends it back.

Prabath Jayasuriya to JP Duminy. Loopy full ball landing around off, Duminy prods forward and gently pushes it towards point for a run.

Prabath Jayasuriya to JP Duminy. Jumps down the track this time to a full ball and pushes it back to the bowler. Good start from Prabath, three dot balls, so far.

Prabath Jayasuriya to JP Duminy. Fires one across again. Around off and skidding away, Duminy plays from the crease and pushes it to the off side.

Prabath Jayasuriya to JP Duminy. Arm ball landing full and outside off, Duminy tries to reverse sweep it but misses.

Prabath Jayasuriya is back on.

Drinks break. Good going from the Proteas. They have lost wickets but have not let the intensity drop. The current pair is batting with fluency and courtesy that, the tourists are well on course for a total in excess of 325. Reeza Hendricks, in particular, has impressed one and all with his technique against spinners. Sri Lanka need wickets to limit the damage as the visitors bat deep. Exciting phase coming up...

Dhananjaya de Silva to Reeza Hendricks. FOUR! 200 comes up for South Africa. Another clean strike by Reeza. Goes with the spin again, kneels down and powers his slog sweep over mid-wicket. Good placement too as it speeds past the left side of the fielder in the deep. Moves into the 90s!

Dhananjaya de Silva to JP Duminy. Driven through mid off by the batsman. They pick up a single.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Reeza Hendricks. Slower through the air, full and on middle, at 83.2 kph, Hendricks gently flicks it in front of square leg and crosses.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Reeza Hendricks. Nicely done. Goes down on one knee and swings it over mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Dhananjaya de Silva to JP Duminy. Fuller and on off, driven down to long off for a single.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Reeza Hendricks. Tossed up ball on off, flicked past the diving mid-wicket fielder for a single. It's Kusal Mendis who is back on the field.

Akila Dananjaya to Reeza Hendricks. The batsman has played it towards mid-wicket. They pick up a single.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. Flatter and full on middle, JP drills it down to long off for a run.

Akila Dananjaya to Reeza Hendricks. A leg spinner landing around leg, Hendricks gets back and nicely works it through mid-wicket for a single. The way he is picking the variations is really commendable. Not for a moment has he looked in any sort of problem.

Akila Dananjaya to Reeza Hendricks. Hendricks has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. Full and on middle, helped down to long on for a single.

Akila Dananjaya to Reeza Hendricks. Loopy and on middle, Hendricks eases it through mid-wicket for one.

Dhananjaya de Silva to JP Duminy. Nearly a yorker, Duminy digs it out off the bottom half of the bat back to the bowler.

Dhananjaya de Silva to JP Duminy. Gets forward to a full ball and blocks it.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Reeza Hendricks. Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. They pick up a single.

Dhananjaya de Silva to JP Duminy. The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. 50-run stand comes up and it has come in a good time. South Africa continue to build on partnerships. This pair has looked completely unfazed.

Dhananjaya de Silva to JP Duminy. Duminy has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.

Dhananjaya de Silva to Reeza Hendricks. Tossed up ball on middle, helped through mid-wicket for a run.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. Oohhh...that nearly went on the stumps. An arm ball this time, landing on middle and skidding back in to cramp the batsman for room. JP after going deep inside the crease somehow manages to keep it out but it takes the inner half of the bat. Not too far away from the stumps as it goes on one bounce to the keeper.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. No run.

Akila Dananjaya to Reeza Hendricks. Flighted and outside off, played down from the crease to point for a run.

Akila Dananjaya to Reeza Hendricks. FOUR! Goes with the spin and finds the fence. A flighted off spinner around off, Reeza goes down on one knee and slog sweeps it in front of square leg. The fielder in the deep runs across to his right but the ball wins the race.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. Flighted ball on middle, helped on the leg side in the gap for a single.

Akila Dananjaya to Reeza Hendricks. The batsman has played it towards mid-wicket. One run added to the total.

Dhananjaya de Silva to JP Duminy. Another delivery sliding down the leg side, Duminy fails to put bat on ball and is hit on the pads.

Dhananjaya de Silva to JP Duminy. Fires it in on off, Duminy defends it near his pads.

Dhananjaya de Silva to JP Duminy. Senses the charge from the batsman and drags his length short. Duminy fails to work it from the middle of the bat and gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Dhananjaya de Silva to JP Duminy. SIX! Oh, he has picked the bones out of it. Reads the line and variation well this time. It's full and skidding back into him. Duminy kneels and smokes it over mid-wicket for a maximum.

Dhananjaya de Silva to JP Duminy. Shout for an lbw! That looked quite adjacent but the umpire shakes his head. A slider landing full around off, skidding back in, JP leans forward to defend but misses to get hit on the pads. They put in an unsuccessful appeal. The replays detect a thick inside edge. Fantastic decision.

Dhananjaya de Silva to JP Duminy. Floated full ball around off, it's driven through the line by Duminy. The short extra cover fielder moves across to his left and dives to stop the ball.

Dhananjaya de Silva is introduced into the attack.

Akila Dananjaya to Reeza Hendricks. Dananjaya tries his variety this time, a leg spinner. But the length is on the shorter side around middle and Hendricks immediately goes deep inside the crease. He pulls it through mid-wicket and comes back for the second run. The throw from the deep hits the stumps at the striker's end but no harm done.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. This one skids back into the batsman from around off, Duminy rocks back and punches it square of the wicket on the off side. A single taken again.

Akila Dananjaya to Reeza Hendricks. Flat again, on middle, Reeza gets back and helps it past the right side of the mid-wicket fielder for one.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. Pulls his length back a bit and lands it around off, JP moves back and steers it through point for one.

Akila Dananjaya to JP Duminy. Tossed up ball on off, defended off the front foot.

Akila Dananjaya to Reeza Hendricks. Flatter and on middle, Hendricks gets back and hits it through mid-wicket for a run.

Akila Dananjaya is back into the attack.

Lahiru Kumara to JP Duminy. Fullish and outside off, JP plays a fluent drive through the line and the mid off fielder makes a fine stop diving across to his right.

Lahiru Kumara to JP Duminy. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.

Lahiru Kumara to JP Duminy. Duminy has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.

Lahiru Kumara to JP Duminy. FOUR! That's a superb shot! Kumara digs in a short ball on middle, at 139 kph, Duminy swivels on the back foot, rides the bounce and pulls it in front of square leg. The fielder in the deep runs across to his right but fails to cut it off.

Lahiru Kumara to Reeza Hendricks. A length ball outside off, Hendricks pushes it through covers and crosses.

Lahiru Kumara to JP Duminy. Offers width outside off, Duminy dabs it to third man for a single.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. Arm ball on middle, skidding down, Hendricks tickles it fine down the leg side for a brace.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. Flatter and fuller on middle, defended on the leg side.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. FOUR! Not quite from the middle of the bat. Last time, he cracked it for a biggie against the turn but this time he failed to have the same control. Full floated ball on middle, turning away a bit, Reeza goes down on one knee and attempts to slog sweep. It comes off the top half of his blade and flies over mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep rushes across to his left but fails to stop the ball.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. Loopy and full on middle, Reeza works it through mid-wicket and returns for the second run.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. Shout for an lbw! Prabath fires this one in, full and around leg, skidding down, Hendricks tries to sweep but misses. It hits him on the back pad and rolls to short fine leg as the bowler appeals. Not given. Missing leg comfortably.

Prabath Jayasuriya to JP Duminy. Loopy full ball around off, Duminy gets forward and slices his drive through point for a single.

Lahiru Kumara to Reeza Hendricks. Angles in a length ball on off, Hendricks gets behind the line and blocks it safely.

Lahiru Kumara to Reeza Hendricks. On a length and outside off, skidding off the surface at 141.2 kph, Reeza tries to force it through the line but fails to middle his shot properly.

Lahiru Kumara to Reeza Hendricks. Good length ball on off, defended off the back foot.

Lahiru Kumara to JP Duminy. The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. They pick up a single.

Lahiru Kumara to JP Duminy. Pitches it up and around off, it's driven down to mid off.

Lahiru Kumara to JP Duminy. Oohhh...that almost rolled back onto the stumps. A length ball around off, Duminy gets across to block it. It falls near the stumps and moves back. Misses the stumps not by much. JP though was ready to shoo it away.

Lahiru Kumara is back on.

Prabath Jayasuriya to JP Duminy. Jumps out of the crease to take it on the full and knocks it down to long on for a run. 150 up for South Africa.

Prabath Jayasuriya to JP Duminy. STREAKY FOUR! JP nearly dragged it on. He stays back to play a square cut to a shortish ball outside off but gets a bottom edge. It drops in front of the keeper before speeding through his legs for a boundary.

Prabath Jayasuriya to JP Duminy. Tossed up ball around off, JP draws forward and lofts it over the bowler's head. The long on fielder cuts it off and they take a couple.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. One run added to the total.

Prabath Jayasuriya to JP Duminy. Walks down the track and pushes it wide of mid off for a run.

Prabath Jayasuriya to JP Duminy. Tossed up and outside off, Duminy plays it late and guides it past first slip for a couple of runs.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. Straighter in line, tucked to deep mid-wicket for a couple. End of a successful over for Sri Lanka.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. Appeal for a catch! Perera bends his back to deliver a short ball around off and it shoots off the surface. Hendricks tries hooking it but fails to make any connection. Dickwella jumps to collect the ball and lets out a big appeal. Nothing from the umpire.

JP Duminy is in next.

Thisara Perera to Faf du Plessis. OUT! Thisara Perera is enjoying a fantastic 2018, by far his best effort with the ball. Once again strikes and this time removes the South African skipper. A back of a length ball around off, moving back just a hint, du Plessis stands back and tries to lift it over mid-wicket. But he fails to find the sweet spot of his bat. Ends up dragging it in the air towards deep square leg and Lakmal moves across to his left to catch the ball. Another growing partnership is cut short and Sri Lanka will try to capitalize now.

Thisara Perera to Faf du Plessis. A bouncer around off, Faf sways away from the line.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. Perera keeps his length short and bowls it outside off, Reeza runs it down to third man for one.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. Shortish and outside off, Hendricks camps back and slaps it to sweeper cover. Kusal Perera in the deep stops it with a dive, saving two for his side.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. Knocks a fuller one down to long off for a single.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Faf du Plessis. Rocks back to punch it towards the cover fielder. He dives to stop the ball but it's not a clean one. A single taken.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. Strides forward and calmly pushes it through covers for one.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. Oohhh...extra bounce surprises the batsman. Jayasuriya delivers a shortish one around off, turning away with extra spice, Hendricks shapes up to run it down but seeing the ball doing its bit, he tries to pull out. But it takes the outside half of the bat and goes past the backward point fielder for a couple of runs.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Faf du Plessis. Driven through mid off by the batsman. One run added to the total.

Thisara Perera to Faf du Plessis. Shortish and on middle, pulled down to fine leg for one. 8 from this over, South Africa going on smoothly.

Thisara Perera to Faf du Plessis. Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.

Thisara Perera to Faf du Plessis. Walks down the track to push it through the line but it takes the inside edge and goes off the inside half to deep mid-wicket. A couple taken.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. A length ball around off, Reeza gets back to push it through covers for a run. MAIDEN FIFTY FOR HENDRICKS! Becomes the 7th South African to do so on debut. Du Plessis walks up to him to congratulate him and probably also to remind him to keep on going. Excellent knock. Can he convert it into a century? Only two South Africans have done that before on debut, Colin Ingram and Temba Bavuma.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. Back of a length delivery around off, shaping in, Hendricks tries to play straight but it takes the inside edge and goes through his legs to fine leg. A couple taken again.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. The batsman works it down the leg side. Two runs added to the total.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. Flatter arm ball on middle, Hendricks gets back to work it past the mid-wicket fielder for one.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. SIX! High and handsome! Lovely hands. Hendricks sits down on one knee and fetches a full ball from outside off. Goes against the turn but still gets enough to clear the mid-wicket fence. Excellent connection. Hendricks is showing that he can bat better against spin than Markram.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. The batsman has pushed it to the cover region. No run.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Faf du Plessis. Flighted and full on off, Faf uses his feet and drives it firmly down to long off for one.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Faf du Plessis. Turns it off his pads but finds the mid-wicket fielder.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. Goes down on one knee and sweeps it through square leg for a single.

Thisara Perera to Faf du Plessis. Risky second, that. But the batsmen were quick between the wickets. Du Plessis works a length ball through backward square leg off the inner half of the bat. A better throw would have found Hendricks wanting. In fact, a better throw with the bowler at the stumps would have been interesting. Thisara was nowhere close.

Thisara Perera to Faf du Plessis. Pitches it up and around off, Faf drives it down the ground but finds mid off.

Thisara Perera to Faf du Plessis. On a length and outside off, played down from the crease to point.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. A short delivery which has been pulled away. They pick up a single.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. Hendricks has played that off the front foot and into the ground.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. Drags his shot. Could have easily gone onto the stumps some other day. Full and around off, shaping back in a bit, Hendricks inside edges his attempted flick past the left side of the mid-wicket fielder. A couple taken.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. Bowls it short and around off, Reeza goes again on the back foot to punch it through cover-point for one. 5 from Prabath's first over.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Faf du Plessis. Flighted ball on middle, skidding in, du Plessis helps it through mid-wicket and crosses.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. Leans forward and drives it through mid off for an easy single.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Faf du Plessis. Goes on the back foot and punches it square of the wicket on the off side for a run.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. Flatter and on off, it's played past the point fielder for a run.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Reeza Hendricks. Tossed up ball outside off, pushed off the front foot to covers.

Prabath Jayasuriya is into the attack now.

Skipper Faf du Plessis is in next. He has been in good form on this tour but has been getting out consistently in the 40s. Can he do better today?

Thisara Perera to Hashim Amla. OUT! No need to refer that. Thisara has cleaned up Hashim Amla and jumps in joy. A big wicket for Sri Lanka. The Mighty Hash was looking in sublime touch. Probably, the last event disturbed his concentration. Perera with a good length ball around off, he gets it to nip back in off the surface and Amla fails to block it from the crease. It goes right through his defense to peg the middle stump back. End of a wonderful knock by Hashim. He will be disappointed though as a century was in the offing. His century drought continues, it's been 10 innings since he got one.

Thisara Perera to Hashim Amla. Oh yes, it's too high. Going over the stumps. Good use of the technology by Hashim. A back of a length ball angling into the batsman and staying low. Amla shapes up for the pull shot across the line but misses due to the lack of bounce and it goes under his bat to hit him on the back leg. They appeal and the finger goes up after a while. Amla takes the DRS and the replays show that it's heading over the sticks. Decision overturned.

Hashim Amla has been given out lbw! He has taken the DRS. Is it too high?

Thisara Perera to Hashim Amla. The batsman defends it from within the crease.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. Fractionally short and around middle, Reeza nudges it to fine leg for one.

Thisara Perera to Hashim Amla. A delightful cover drive from Hashim Amla for a single. He has been in tremendous touch since morning. 100 up for South Africa.

Thisara Perera to Hashim Amla. Nearly a return catch. Perera delivers it full and around off, Hashim is on the front foot and pushes it back uppishly. Perera goes down in his followthrough to attempt for the catch but it falls just short.

Lahiru Kumara to Reeza Hendricks. Shortish and on off, Reeza rocks back and punches it with nice timing to sweeper cover. A couple taken.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Easily tucked off the pads by Amla and it speeds in front of square leg for a single.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Sharp delivery, around off and shaping in with extra bounce. Amla fails to work it around and it goes off his pads to backward point. For a moment, the bowler got excited but he quickly realized that it was high.

Lahiru Kumara to Reeza Hendricks. On a length and around off, Hendricks has looked quite assured so far at the crease as he pushes it through covers for a single.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Well stopped in the end by Prabath. A short in length delivery around off, Amla stays back and pulls it over square leg. It goes on one bounce to the fielder in the deep and there is some extra life. Prabath jumps at the last moment to stop it over his head. They pick up a single.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Slightly short in length and around off, shaping in, Amla stays back inside the crease and dead-bats it safely.

Drinks are on the field. A positive start for South Africa. They might have lost their man in form, but Hashim Amla has taken over the reins and gone on the attack. Got to his fifty in no time and is partnered now by Reeza Hendricks, who is growing in confidence with each passing over. Sri Lanka need to break this stand, and soon. Where will it come from, remains to be seen though.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. Dabs this away to point. Straight towards the fielder.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. Full ball aiming the base of off stump, Hendricks lofts it over cover-point with an open face. Collects a couple for doing so.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. Stays rooted inside the crease and guards it out safely.

Thisara Perera to Hashim Amla. Seaming back in on middle and leg, catches Amla on the thigh pad and rolls away on the leg side. A leg bye is taken and the 50-run stand is up with that.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. Guided down to fine leg by the batsman. They pick up a single.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. On off stump, a good length delivery, a defensive bat is presented in response.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Length delivery around off, pulled through the mid-wicket region for a double.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Wide! Another short ball, Amla tries to take the pull shot on but it's too high for him to connect. Wide signalled by the umpire.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Full in length, just around off, driven to mid on without much timing.

Lahiru Kumara to Reeza Hendricks. Back of a length, keeps slightly low, it's pulled off the inner half through square leg. One more to the total.

Lahiru Kumara to Reeza Hendricks. FIVE WIDES! If you're banging it in short at the pace Kumara does, there's always a good chance that's going to happen. Bumper which goes over the batsman and the keeper's head. No chance to stop that.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Waits for the ball to come to him, hangs on the back foot and runs it down to third man for a run.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Ooooff! That was close. At 144 clicks, Kumara serves it on a length outside off, Amla looks to play at it loosely and almost edges it behind.

Lahiru Kumara to Reeza Hendricks. Back of a length and moving away outside off, Hendricks places it through covers. The sweeper collects it as the batsmen take a single.

Lahiru Kumara back on.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. Full outside off, Hendricks takes the aerial route and lofts it over the covers. Just the single results.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. The batsman defends it from within the crease.

Thisara Perera to Hashim Amla. Fullish length ball around off, cutting back in, Amla works it with the wrists towards mid-wicket and crosses over.

Thisara Perera to Hashim Amla. Fuller and a touch slower in pace, played to point. Dot ball.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. Sticks back to this length ball rising a bit and punches it through to sweeper cover. One run to the total.

Thisara Perera to Reeza Hendricks. Good length delivery outside the line of off stump, pushed to the cover region.

Thisara Perera into the attack.

Akila Dananjaya to Reeza Hendricks. Flicks it with the wrists through the mid-wicket region for a single.

Akila Dananjaya to Reeza Hendricks. Full and darted from the bowler, catches the batsman low on the pads.

Akila Dananjaya to Reeza Hendricks. FOUR! Shot. A bit too full, quite loopy outside off, Hendricks shapes up for the cover drive and places it quite well. Enough power on it, it's through the gap for a boundary.

Akila Dananjaya to Reeza Hendricks. Opens his body up a bit and pushes it to mid off.

Akila Dananjaya to Hashim Amla. Too full, the leg spinner again, but Amla drives this before the ball can turn. Down to long on and a single is taken.

Akila Dananjaya to Hashim Amla. The leg break on middle, spins away from a bit of a shorter length, Amla goes back and pushes it back down the track.

Suranga Lakmal to Reeza Hendricks. Full on the stumps, the batsman uses the depth of the crease to go back and wrist it to mid on.

Suranga Lakmal to Reeza Hendricks. Just behind a driving length but with some extra bounce, Reeza stays back and keeps it out.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. Opens the face of the bat and runs it down to third man for one.

Suranga Lakmal to Reeza Hendricks. Coming back in on middle and leg, nudged down towards fine leg for a single.

Some medical attention out for Kusal Mendis and he'll hopefully be fine to continue. He's off the field for now and Dasun Shanaka is on in his place.

Suranga Lakmal to Reeza Hendricks. Length delivery outside off, Hendricks hangs his bat out to that and gets an edge behind. It falls well short of Mendis at first slip, but in the process of getting low to stop it, he cops a blow on his fingers. He's down in some pain.

Suranga Lakmal to Reeza Hendricks. FOUR! Short and outside off, Hendricks punches it a bit square through the off side for a boundary.

Powerplay 2 signalled. That means a maximum of 4 fielders will be allowed outside the ring till the 40th over.

Akila Dananjaya to Hashim Amla. Played through mid-wicket by the batsman. End of the over. 64/1 at the end of the Powerplay. Sri Lanka did get de Kock, but this is South Africa's by a long margin.

Akila Dananjaya to Hashim Amla. FOUR! Brings it up in style. Fifty for Hashim Amla. His 36th in this format. Offers a firm punch through the gap in the covers and sends it across the boundary line. He's looked in fine form so far. His scores at this venue previously are 77 and 101. Another big knock incoming?

Akila Dananjaya to Hashim Amla. SIX! Good use of the feet from Amla and it's been put away. Quick and decisive thinking from Amla as he dances down and lofts it cleanly over long off. First maximum of the day.

Akila Dananjaya to Hashim Amla. Full and just around off, blocked out off the front foot.

Akila Dananjaya to Reeza Hendricks. Better this time. Hendricks drives this tossed up ball past the diving cover fielder. It won't go all the way, but it's enough to fetch him three good runs.

Akila Dananjaya to Reeza Hendricks. Tossed up off break outside off, Reeza drives it to the man at cover.

Spin in early for Sri Lanka. Akila Dananjaya comes into the bowling attack.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. Maiden over from Lakmal. Excellent stuff. Shaping away from around off, Amla pushes it to the cover fielder.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. Driven to mid off with the full face of the bat.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. Good over from Lakmal so far. Sri Lanka need to control the run flow, this will help. Amla taps this length ball to backward point. No run taken.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. Coming in at first and then going away on off, pushed tamely in front of covers.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. Watches the ball landing well outside off, Amla covers the line and lets it be.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. A hint of shape away from the batsman, on a length around off, Amla has nothing to do with it.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Nicely done. Amla hops, gets on top of the bounce and places it behind point. He'll keep strike with a single.

Lahiru Kumara to Reeza Hendricks. 50 comes up with this for South Africa. Hendricks tucks it square on the leg side and gets to the other end.

Lahiru Kumara to Reeza Hendricks. Makes good connection, but straight to the fielder. Hendricks punches it off the middle, but the man at cover.

Lahiru Kumara to Reeza Hendricks. Works it away on the leg side for no run.

Lahiru Kumara to Reeza Hendricks. Stays behind, waits for the ball to come before meeting it with a straight bat.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Shooting off the deck a bit and outside off, Amla gets it off the outer half down to third man for a run.

Suranga Lakmal to Reeza Hendricks. Beaten! Wider outside off, this time Reeza has a go at it. Just past the outside edge and into the keeper's gloves.

Suranga Lakmal to Reeza Hendricks. Good delivery from Lakmal. Keeps it in that off stump channel and makes it go away late. Hendricks initially is trying to play at it but then opts out.

Suranga Lakmal to Reeza Hendricks. Well left. On the fifth stump line, Hendricks has no trouble letting it go through him.

Suranga Lakmal to Reeza Hendricks. Short of a good length outside off, cut down to third man. Two runs collected.

Suranga Lakmal to Reeza Hendricks. FOUR! Great shot by Reeza Hendricks to get going. Too full and outside off, he leans ahead, picks his spot and calmly drives it through the cover region for a boundary.

Suranga Lakmal to Reeza Hendricks. Full and swinging away from outside off, arms are shouldered to this one.

Reeza Hendricks walks in at no.3. He has a chance to stake a claim in the team today.

Lahiru Kumara to Quinton de Kock. OUT! There's the silver lining for Kumara and Sri Lanka in this over. Full and shaping away on off, de Kock swings across the line but gets a leading edge which flies over cover-point. Kusal Perera runs back, settles himself under the ball and takes a well-judged catch. Possibly de Kock acted a bit rashly because he wasn't getting too much strike. In the previous two games, he was in full flow as he faced a lot of balls. Anyway, 13 runs and a wicket in this over. Maybe Sri Lanka can push on from this?

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Brings those wrists into play yet again and works it in front of square leg. One run to the total.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. A dot ball. Cuts it back in on off, Hashim stays inside the crease and defends.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. FOUR! Three in a row. Kumara under the pump here. Amla bringing the heat in these somewhat overcast Kandy conditions. Full and wide, inviting him for the drive and the right-hander obliges. Reaches out to the ball and crisply drives it through the gap in the covers.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. FOUR! He's not learning it seems. On the shorter side, too straight in line, Amla plays a flick-pull kind of a shot with the use of his wrists and places it through backward square leg again. Consecutive boundaries.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. FOUR! Hashim Amla is on the charge. That's his 6th boundary of the innings already. Short ball on the body, the leg side field is completely empty and that's suicide bowling. Amla just pulls it through square leg and finds the fence.

Suranga Lakmal to Quinton de Kock. Keeps it full and angles it in once more, de Kock flicks it straight to mid-wicket.

Suranga Lakmal to Quinton de Kock. Closes the face, works it away to the man at mid-wicket.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. Stands tall and flays this shortish ball in third man's direction for one.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. Muted shout for a leg before. Turned down, height being the problem. Just behind a length on middle, it comes back in and strikes Amla high on the pads.

Suranga Lakmal to Quinton de Kock. Angling down leg, it's picked off the hips down towards fine leg. One run taken.

Suranga Lakmal to Quinton de Kock. Lakmal comes from around the wicket to the left-hander, angles in a back of a length ball on off. De Kock is slightly cramped for room as he pushes. Gets an inside edge which hits him on his hip, before rolling back to the Lankan keeper.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Short and outside off, Amla looks to ramp this over the slip cordon but fails to make connection due to the slight away movement.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Fullish in length this time, attacking the stumps, worked off the inner half to the man in front of square leg.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Kumara brings out the short one and hits the deck hard. Amla sees it early and does well to duck and evade.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Pounded in short, just outside off, kept out off the back foot by rising on his toes.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Could have been another one, but Suranga Lakmal does well to prevent that out in the deep. Amla cuts this towards third man, where the fielder moves to his right and keeps the batsmen down to two with a dive.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. FOUR! Another boundary in that same area. Amla is clearly targeting that place and executing his shots to perfection. Fuller just around off, it's lofted over cover-point. Nobody out there in the deep because of the Powerplay, so it will race away without any trouble.

Suranga Lakmal to Quinton de Kock. Changes the angle and comes from around the wicket, angles it in on leg. It keeps going down and raps Quinton de Kock on the thigh pad. Stifled appeal, but Lakmal quickly withdraws realizing it was missing leg.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. Good timing on this one too, but third man cuts it off this time. Amla cuts this short ball behind point and manages just a single.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. FOUR! And there comes another boundary to his name. Fuller and swinging away from outside off, Amla thrashes it over point with the best possible timing. It goes to the fence in a flash.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. Lands it in the corridor of uncertainty, but Amla is quite certain he wants to leave this. He looks much assured today.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. Wide! Well outside off, from the other side of the tramline. Amla leaves it alone.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. Nice and tight from Lakmal. Keeps it around the off stump line, forces Amla to push it back down the track for nothing.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. Keeps it on the fuller side, outside off, the batsman opens the face of the bat before dabbing to the point fielder.

Lahiru Kumara to Quinton de Kock. Length delivery on off stump, de Kock pats this down in front of covers and wants the single. Takes off but is then sent back.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Places this behind point and gets off strike.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. FOUR! This one is even better. All about the timing on the shot. Beautiful. Kumara goes too full again, around off, Amla with just a firm push through extra cover this time. No stopping that one.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. FOUR! Superb. Full and just outside off, Amla nicely leans into the drive and creams the drive through cover-point to find the fence.

Lahiru Kumara to Hashim Amla. Sharp bounce for Lahiru Kumara. Could have easily drawn Hashim Amla's edge there. Shortish just outside off, Amla looks to defend by standing tall but gets beaten.

Lahiru Kumara to Quinton de Kock. Short of a good length angling across, de Kock gets off the mark immediately by tapping it in front of point for a quick single.

Lahiru Kumara to bowl from the other end with the second new ball. He too has a couple of slips positioned for him.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. FOUR! Shot. A good over ruined a little. But there are those fast hands from Hashim Amla. He's offered a little width outside off and he pounces on it with a fierce cut through cover-point for a boundary.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. Superb. Some extra bounce on that occasion. Outside off on a good length, Amla rises his bat skywards and lets it through for the keeper.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. Attacks the top of off stump from a good length, Amla gets right behind the line and meets it with the full face of the bat. So far so good from Lakmal.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. On the fourth stump line, not much movement on this occasion, another easy leave for the batsman.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. Good line. In the channel outside off, on a good length, Hashim Amla covers the line and shoulders arms to it.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. Brings it in closer, close to off, Amla opens the face of the bat and taps it down in front of point.

Suranga Lakmal to Hashim Amla. Wide! A bit of a false start from Lakmal. He hurls this too far outside off, it moves away and goes across the tramline, Amla leaves and it's signalled as a wide.

We are ready to get underway. The Sri Lankan team is seen in a huddle by the rope, with Angelo Mathews giving them a last pep talk before they make their way in. Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla take their place in the middle. Suranga Lakmal to take the new ball first up. He has two slips in place. Here we go...

Kusal Perera gives a quick interview to Roshan Abeysinghe. He says that the changed batting technique for him is to play on pace-friendly tracks. On his performance in the second ODI, he says that this is how it is, he tries his best and sometimes it doesn't come off. Adds that he is giving his best and is hoping for the best. Goes on to say that he tries to attack the ball and the opposition is attacking his weaknesses, so he needs to be smarter. Says that he has not changed his style much. Feels that the batsmen will have to take the responsibilities. States that the team has talked about its strengths and weaknesses, the series is still alive and he hopes that they will execute their basics right.

Pitch Report - Kepler Wessels out there analyzing the surface says in Day/Night ODIs and in Tests, the bowlers have enjoyed here. Adds the surface is firm and flat, without much grass covering. Reckons it's a good batting strip, full of runs. When asked which team will enjoy more, Kepler says South Africa as Sri Lanka have struggled against their pacers.

South Africa skipper, Faf du Plessis says it doesn't matter if he wins the toss or not, in ODIs at least, but Tests is a different matter. Feels the ball might spin a bit more in the afternoon. Adds there's a bit more moisture than before, so that's just changed his mind a bit about things. Mentions Reeza Hendricks comes in for Aiden Markram. States that the team is going well and he's happy with the mentality of his players. He ends by saying he's glad he's able to give a chance to the younger guys in the side.

Sri Lanka skipper, Angelo Mathews says the wicket looks really good and there might be movement early on. Informs there are a couple of changes as Lahiru Kumara and Dhananjaya de Silva come in for Kasun Rajitha and Shehan Jayasuriya. On what they need to do, Mathews says they just have to improve their basics, mainly on the field. Doesn't have any idea about a par score, but reckons 250-275 should be a minimum.

TOSS - The spin of the coin goes Sri Lanka's way again and they will bowl first!

We've witnessed a complete contrast from the Test series. The moment South Africa switched from the whites into their greens, they've seemed like a different beast altogether. The batsmen played spin like they've grown up in the subcontinent. Their bowling attack has been good as it is, but with an improved performance with the bat, the team looks much settled now. The skipper continues to lead from the front, with Quinton de Kock coming into his elements as well. It poses a tough challenge for Sri Lanka, who are staring down the barrel, of a major series loss at home. Already 0-2 down, and a loss here will do them in. The batting has been a bit underwhelming, to say the least, and it needs to step up to give a better chance to the bowlers. Plenty to play for in this first change of venue in this series. Stay tuned, it'll begin shortly...