Sangakkara sparks Sri Lanka’s winning rally

Published on Monday 23 January 2012 00:16

Kumar Sangakkara’s century led Sri Lanka to a riveting two-wicket win over South Africa with a ball to spare as they restored some pride in the fifth and final one-day international.

At 3-1 down, Sri Lanka appeared poised for another defeat when centuries from Graeme Smith (125) and AB de Villiers (125 not out), who added 186 in 28 overs for for the third wicket, led the Proteas to 312 for four.

But Sangakkara (102) and Lahiru Thirimanne (69) put on 100 together and, when both fell late on, Sachithra Senanayake smashed a six to seal the win.

Sri Lanka got their chase off to a positive start with Upul Tharanga scoring 46 before slicing a drive over JP Duminy, who turned and ran towards the boundary before diving forward to take a sensational catch.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (41) and Dinesh Chandimal were next to fall, leaving Sri Lanka 175 for three after 30 overs.

Thirimanne and Sangakkara worked the ball around to good effect, putting on 100 with a minimum of fuss. Sangakkara brought up his own century off 96 balls by glancing Albie Morkel for four but holed out to Duminy two deliveries later.

Thirimanne reached his first ODI half-century moments later but Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera and Nuwan Kulasekara came and went without offering support.

When Thirimanne fell off the third ball of the last over, Robin Peterson’s second wicket in three deliveries, it seemed to be all over, but Senanayake heaved a huge six off the penultimate ball to provide a final twist.

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