Tillakaratne Dilshan: Sri Lanka captain set tone of run chase with run-a-ball 87
Sri Lanka restored some pride against South Africa with a five-wicket victory in the fourth one-day international in Kimberley.
AB de Villiers' composed knock of 96 and Graeme Smith's 68 helped the hosts post 299-7 after opting to bat first, as they looked to remain on course for a whitewash in the five-match series.
But Tillakaratne Dilshan had other ideas and his run-a-ball 87 at the top of the order set Sri Lanka on their way, with Dinesh Chandimal's 59 continuing the momentum and man of the match Thisara Perera's 69 seeing them home with eight balls to spare.
De Villiers had looked set for a 12th limited-overs hundred until he moved across one from Perera and lost his middle stump but his contribution - along with Smith's - meant the visitors would have to better any score they had made on the tour so far if they were to win.
Flying start
Smith and opening partner Alviro Petersen raced out of the blocks, posting 84 runs in just 79 balls before the latter tried to charge Rangana Herath's first ball but found the hands of Upul Tharanga and fell for 37.
De Villiers then joined Smith and the pair set about putting on a second-wicket partnership of 87 in a shade over 10 overs that ended when the former skipper looked to work Lasith Malinga on the leg-side but popped a catch up to Dilshan at short midwicket.
Smith's total came from 69 balls and, although he was not as brash as De Villiers, who clubbed a four and a six in two successive overs, it was a highly important knock.
Next man in Colin Ingram only lasted four balls, getting pinned in front by Nuwan Kulasekara, before JP Duminy joined De Villiers at the crease and the flow of runs continued.
Duminy stroked a quick 36 before he edged Perera behind to Kumar Sangakkara, with De Villiers following him back to the pavilion 13 balls later.
Francois du Plessis only made five in a brief stay at the crease, before Wayne Parnell was run out after making a breezy 21 from 17 balls.
That left Robin Peterson (23) and Vernon Philander (two) to see the innings through to its conclusion.
Chasing 300 for victory, the tourists suffered an early blow with the loss of Tharanga in the fourth over for six.
Lonwabo Tsotsobe induced a top edge from the opener, with De Villiers snapping up a straightforward catch.
That brought Sangakkara out to join his skipper in the middle and the pair shared an 83-run partnership to get Sri Lanka back on track before the former's innings came to an end in spectacular style.
Having advanced to 32 from 31 balls, Sangakkara smashed Peterson towards deep mid-wicket only for a leaping Petersen to claim a brilliant catch above his head and then land inside the boundary rope.
Steady
Chandimal provided a steady presence alongside Dilshan after arriving with the score on 100-2.
The pair took the total to 168 before the captain - 13 runs short of his century - became Tsotsobe's second victim in the 29th over, Duminy jumping to his left to cling on to a neat catch at short extra cover.
Duminy was again the safe pair of hands five overs later, making no mistake at short midwicket to see off Lahiru Thirimanne (13) off the bowling of Philander.
Chandimal had a let-off in the 41st over when Tsotsobe took the sting out of a fierce drive but was unable to hold on to a difficult caught-and-bowled opportunity.
However, two balls later he was gone - bowled by Tsotsobe down the leg-side - to leave Sri Lanka 246-5.
With nine overs left and five wickets in hand, the result was up in the air, but Perera in particular showed no sign of nerves as he linked up with Angelo Mathews to get the tourists over the line.
Perera finished things off in style by plundering a six straight down the pitch and out of the ground off Duminy to round off his 69 from 44 balls, with Mathews ending on 21 not out.
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