SL secure series

Vintage Sri Lankan duo of Kumar Sangakkara (R) and Tillakaratne Dilshan stroll for a single during their superb 184-run stand for the second wicket in their fourth ODI against South Africa at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium yesterday. Photo: AFP

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara pulverised South Africa's bowling as Sri Lanka took a decisive 3-1 lead in the one-day series with an eight-wicket victory in Pallekele on Sunday.
Dilshan returned unbeaten on 115 and Sangakkara made 91 during a record partnership of 184 runs to steer the hosts past South Africa's 238 all out in the 44th over of the day-night match.
Dilshan's 17th one-day century and the second against South Africa was studded with 16 boundaries. Sangakkara kept pace with his partner with eight fours and two sixes.
The pair put on Sri Lanka's highest one-day stand for any wicket against the Proteas after opener Mahela Jayawardene had been removed for 12 in the 10th over.
Left-handed Sangakkara missed his second hundred in the series when he holed out in the deep off Morne Morkel when just 10 more were needed for victory.
The emphatic victory by the hosts reduced Wednesday's fifth and final match in Colombo to a formality.
Earlier, JP Duminy hit 97 and a fit-again Hashim Amla made 77 to lift South Africa to 238 after the tourists won the toss and elected to bat.
Duminy lashed seven boundaries and two sixes before he was last man out in the 49th over.

South Africa batsman Jean-Paul Duminy smashes one down the ground during his 97-run knock as South Africa scored 223 for 7 in the fourth ODI against Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Stadium yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

SCORES IN BRIEF
SOUTH AFRICA: 238 all out in 48.4 overs (Amla 77, Duminy 97, Du Plessis 23; Malinga 3-52, Mendis 4-51, Dilshan 2-40)
SRI LANKA: 239-2 in 44 overs ( Dilshan 115 not out, Sangakkara 91, Mahela 12)
Result: Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets, lead five-match series 3-1
Player-of-the-match: Dilshan