JOHANNESBURG Jan 22 (Reuters) – Kumar Sangakkara
compiled a well-paced century to help
Sri Lanka to a two-wicket win over South Africa off the
penultimate ball in the fifth one-day international at the
Wanderers on Sunday.
Sangakkara scored 102 from 97 balls as Sri Lanka, chasing
South Africa’s 312 for four, reached 307 for five with only six
runs needed off seven balls.
But they contrived to lose three wickets in the space of
four deliveries before Sachithra Senanayake struck left-arm
spinner Robin Peterson high over mid-wicket for six.
South Africa, who won the series 3-2, owed their total to
captain Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers who each scored 125.
Sangakkara anchored Sri Lanka’s run chase, reaching his
fifty off 54 balls before posting his 12th one-day
international.
After striking 10 fours, he fell to the first ball following
the completion of his hundred when he hoisted a delivery from
off-spinner JP Duminy to Pietersen at long-off.
Play was delayed for an hour before Sangakkara and fellow
left-hander Lahiru Thirimanne added 100 runs for the fourth
wicket on a good batting pitch.
Sangakkara departed with the score on 275 for four with the
tourists needing just 38 runs off 34 balls and 22-year-old
Thirimanne brought up his maiden ODI fifty on his way to 69 at
better than a run a ball to set up the tense finish.
The result would have been particularly hard on Smith and De
Villiers who had batted superbly during their team’s innings.
Continued…
