SA secure series win

Faf du Plessis constructed a superb fifty to help South Africa to a four-run victory on the Duckworth/Lewis method and a series win in the third Sunfoil one-day international against Sri Lanka at Chevrolet Park in Bloemfontein on Tuesday. Full Scoring South Africa, chasing Sri Lanka’s 266 for nine, reached 179 for five after 34 overs before rain began falling. When rain began falling the hosts held a four-run lead on the Duckworth /Lewis method, enough for them to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series when the match was finally called off an hour and 20 minutes later South Africa had Du Plessis and his high-class knock of 72 off 74 balls with seven fours to thank for winning the game after they had slipped to 52 for three with Graeme Smith (2), Colin Ingram (13) and Alviro Petersen (17) all departing cheaply. But Du Plessis, together with JP Duminy (25), steadied the innings with a fourth-wicket stand of 61 with Du Plessis bringing up his third ODI fifty off 55 deliveries. The duo took the score to 113 before Duminy was controversially run out at the non-striker’s end by Nuwan Kulasekara. Replays seemed to be inconclusive but the third umpire Billy Doctrove felt that Duminy was out to the visible dismay of the Proteas’ changeroom. Du Plessis, who battled cramps during his innings, was also run out as he failed to beat Angelo Mathews’ throw from the covers to keeper Kumar Sangakkara but Du Plessis had provided the platform for AB de Villiers (39 not out) and Albie Morkel (7 not out) to see their team over the line. Paceman Lasith Malinga was the stand out performer with the ball for Sri Lanka as he ended with 2-20 off five overs.