Duminy's 97 takes South Africa to 238

25 overs Sri Lanka 103 for 1 (Dilshan 49*, Sangakkara 33*) need 136 runs to beat South Africa 238
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Sri Lanka remained circumspect but on track to achieve the highest successful run chase in Pallekele and seal the series against South Africa. Although scoring remained slow - hovering around four runs to the over - on a sluggish track, they had lost only one wicket by the halfway stage and still required less than a run a ball to win.

Like South Africa, they made a change to their top two, moving Upul Tharanga down the order. Against South Africa's opening pair, Morne Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who are both capable of extracting bounce and moving the ball, a more watchful approach was needed and Mahela Jayawardene was asked to provide that.

Both new-ball bowlers got extra bounce while Tsotsobe got the ball to angle across Tillakaratne Dilshan. They were, however, ill-disciplined again and bowled six wides and a no-ball to ease the pressure they were creating.

Dilshan, who is now a more careful hitter, managed a couple of boundaries off short balls while Jayawardene brought out his drive occasionally. Both struggled because of limited scoring opportunities and Jayawardene eventually fell trying to hit out in the tenth over. He attempted to steer Tsotsobe to third man but Hashim Amla was positioned at gully and took a sharp catch to leave Sri Lanka 45 for 1.

Rory Kleinveldt, brought into the side because of a hamstring injury to Ryan McLaren, also asked questions of the Sri Lankan batsmen. He tempted them by pitching it up and induced the edge from Kumar Sangakkara but Amla could not manage another stunner.

South Africa's slow bowlers once again let the grip ease against players who are accomplished against spin. The left-armer Robin Peterson posed no threat to either batsman and they could work the ball around against him. South Africa's only other bowling option is Farhaan Behardien, but unless he can have a similar impact as he did in the third match, Sri Lanka only need to time their assault well to secure the trophy.

South Africa 238 (Duminy 97, Amla 77) v Sri Lanka

JP Duminy survived a middle-order wobble to finish three short of the first century of South Africa's tour and set Sri Lanka a competitive target of 239. In the process, he ended a dry spell of his own. Duminy's last score over 50 was seven innings ago, against Netherlands at the end of May.

Duminy's contribution, built on the back of the fit-again Hashim Amla's half-century, will require Sri Lanka to register the highest successful chase in Pallekele if they are to seal the series - a tough task on a slowing surface. Sri Lanka will take heart, though, from the problems they caused the rest of the South Africa line-up. Lasith Malinga made indentations at the top and tail of the innings, and the slew of spinners kept scoring to a minimum in the middle section.

They erred in allowing Amla too much width early on, which gave the opener an opportunity to underline his value to South Africa's ODI unit. Amla was ruled out of the first and third matches with injury and did not bat in the second after hurting himself when fielding and his return was welcomed by AB de Villiers. He found his timing immediately and batted with a freedom the rest have lacked.

His opening partner, Quinton de Kock, had no such luck. Preferred ahead of Alviro Petersen and Colin Ingram, de Kock had no chance against Malinga. De Kock faced only three balls from the mop-haired maestro and it was obvious Malinga was looking to york the youngster. His first two deliveries were full tosses and then he got the toe-crusher right to bowl de Kock for 8.

Malinga did not pose the same threat to Amla, against whom he tried the short ball. Amla pulled him with confidence, although he almost gloved one early on, and took three boundaries off his third over.

Sri Lanka were forced to introduce spin early in an attempt to stem the flow. Ajantha Mendis was brought on in the sixth over and Amla was immediately more watchful. He preferred to take on the likes of Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera, as both continued with a line too far outside the off stump.

With Amla in full flow, Duminy had time to settle in. He also found boundaries off the seamers and as the partnership grew, South Africa took the Powerplay after 15 overs. It proved an ill-timed decision as they could manage only 22 runs in the five-over period and Amla departed soon after.

He was out lbw to Tillakaratne Dilshan who came from round the wicket to trap him on the back foot. Amla reviewed the decision but he was unsuccessful. He had done the groundwork for the middle-order but they struggled to build on it.

De Villiers' lean run continued when he was caught behind trying to paddle sweep Dilshan. Faf du Plessis also did not offer a meaningful contribution. He was dropped on 12 by Mathews in his follow through and was stumped five overs later after lunging forward to Rangana Herath.

Mendis again foxed the less experienced players. David Miller was bowled by the legbreak and Farhaan Behardien clipped him to short leg. The two fell in three balls and South Africa's 118 for 1 after 22 overs became 173 for 6 in the 38th.

The fall of wickets forced Duminy to continue a quiet vigil and his strike rate remained in the 60s, until the last four overs, while he waited for a time to launch. In the end, he was only able to do a very small extent.

Malinga was mainly responsible for the hardship Duminy experienced. He picked at the tail with short balls and slower deliveries. He accounted for Robin Peterson and Rory Kleinveldt, who hit the innings' only six.

South Africa's addition of just 120 runs in the last 26.4 overs of their innings represented another batting struggle. But with 198 still the highest successful target chased at the venue, they will hope it is enough to make the final match a decider.

Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-south-africa-2013/content/story/655927.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

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