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A half-century from Faf du Plessis led South Africa a series-clinching success in the third one-dayer against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Chasing 267 to win, the home team was 179 for five after 34 overs when rain ended play. According to Duckworth-Lewis method, South Africa was four runs ahead of Sri Lanka, giving them an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

The 27-year-old Du Plessis lifted South Africa from 52 for three with 72 off 74 balls, the highest of his three half-centuries, before he became the second batsman to be run out in the innings as he unsuccessful to beat a throw by Angelo Mathews. Captain AB de Villiers then took over with an aggressive 39 not out off 36 deliveries.

Earlier, fast bowler Lasith Malinga put Sri Lanka on top by clean bowling Graeme Smith for two and Colin Ingram for 13. Sri Lanka totaled 266 for nine after winning the toss. Their top four all scored more than 30 but only opener Upul Tharanga (58) managed a half-century. Nuwan Kulasekara provided some momentum in the closing overs with 40 off 38 balls. The fourth match is in Kimberley on Friday.

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South Africa's season of strange results formed another jaw-dropper as Sri Lanka subsided to 43 all out, their lowest total in one-dayers. Sri Lanka's 258-run defeat in Paarl was the third largest in ODI history, giving AB de Villiers the perfect start to his captaincy. They ran up 301 after winning the toss. Hashim Amla highlighted why he's the world's top-ranked ODI batsman with his ninth century, and was supported by the Jacques Kallis provided the early momentum before de Villiers produced the most easy innings of the match to power South Africa on a pitch where both seam and spin proved elusive in the afternoon.

Lasith Malinga underscored his value to Sri Lanka, with a five-for that reined in South Africa towards the end of the innings, but his genuine efforts proved moot as Sri Lanka lost five wickets in five overs to effectively end the contest. Two South African bowlers with points to prove were given the new balls and they snuffed out the battle even before the main man Dale Steyn was called on. Morne Morkel, coming off an uncaring Test summer, started the collapse in the first over as Upul Tharanga attempted a leaden-footed slap which ended as a low catch at backward point.

The alarm bells were truly buzzing when Dinesh Chandimal struggled to get bat on ball, inside-edging an accurate Tsotsobe three times before nicking a loose drive onto the stumps. Morkel then almost killed off the game in the fifth over: Kumar Sangakkara's attempted upper cut gave de Villiers his second catch, and two balls later Angelo Mathews' awkward fend at a short ball popped to midwicket. At 241 for 2 after 40 overs, South Africa seemed headed for at least 320. A Kulasekara yorker, though, removed the rampant de Villiers, before Malinga worked his magic to rip through the lower middle order.

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Nuwan Kulasekara, the Sri Lanka fast bowler, will join the squad for the ODI series in South Africa after four months on the sidelines. Lasith Malinga, Upul Tharanga and Kosala Kulasekara will also be part of the one-day leg of the tour, while Chanaka Welegedara, Kaushal Silva, Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitana, Dimuth Karunaratne and Kanishka Alvitigala will not be concerned after the Test series concludes. Sri Lanka picked a different spin attack to the one they played against Pakistan in the UAE, their previous one-day series.

Suraj Randiv, Jeevan Mendis and Seekkuge Prasanna, who were in the squad against Pakistan, were left out, with the selectors sticking with Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis, who are already in South Africa. Nuwan Kulasekara, who has not played for Sri Lanka since picking up an injury in their home ODI series against Australia in August, was initially set to join the squad for the second and third Tests in South Africa. Sri Lanka's sports ministry, however, vetoed his selection and the uncapped Kanishka Alvitigala was picked instead.

Alvitigala did not get a game in the Test series and has now been replaced by Kulasekara. Malinga, who is retired from Test cricket and Tharanga were the probable additions to the squad in South Africa. Herath, who is measured more suitable to Tests, was kept for the ODIs after he took nine wickets in Sri Lanka's upset of South Africa in Durban. Ajantha Mendis, meanwhile, did not play a Test but was picked in the ODI squad after being dropped for the series against Pakistan.

Squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Angelo Mathews (vc), Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Kosala Kulasekara, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Dhammika Prasad, Dilhara Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne

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South Africa haven't won their previous four home Test series, but a disappointment to close out this one will cause the most criticism. While the other contests were against teams near the top of the rankings, this one is against a side that was under pressure to find its feet in Test cricket after the leaving of Muttiah Muralitharan. A series that was probable to be all one-way traffic is now level at one-all, with Sri Lanka having already achieved their pre-tour ambition of winning a Test in South Africa.

After basking in one of their greatest Test victories, Sri Lanka have now scaled up their goal to a series win in South Africa. The Durban success came about through important contributions from many of their players - Thilan Samaraweera and Kumar Sangakkara making hundreds, Chanaka Welegedara and Rangana Herath taking five-fours, and Dinesh Chandimal scoring essential half-centuries in each innings. That's something they need to repeat in Cape Town if they are to pose a challenge to South Africa, who remain favourites despite the Durban debacle.

The return of Vernon Philander, whose accurate swing bowling has brought him four five-wicket hauls in three Tests, is a cause of cheer for the home side. Sri Lanka, though, have several injury worries - Chandimal is stressed with an elbow problem and a final call on his availability will be taken on Tuesday, while their quickest bowler Dilhara Fernando is also uncertain after suffering knee pain. It has been more than a decade since Sri Lanka played a Test in Cape Town, but their previous match at the venue remains their biggest defeat in Tests.

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Dean Elgar, the uncapped left-handed batsman, and seamer Rory Kleinveldt have been included in South Africa's 14-man squad for the first two ODI’s against Sri Lanka. The series will also be the first chance for AB de Villiers as captain after injury meant he missed the matches against Australia. Elgar, the Knights opening batsman, is the only rookie in the squad. Kleinveldt has already represented South Africa in two Twenty20 internationals, the latest one during the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.

The squad includes three changes from the one that faced Australia at home recently. De Villiers will take over the wicket keeping duties from Mark Boucher next to his captaincy duties, while Elgar swap batsman David Miller and the selectors chose to switch leg spinner Imran Tahir for Kleinveldt. "We have chosen a squad of 14 for the first two games only," Andrew Hudson, the Cricket South Africa's selection convener, said. "Those members of the squad who are not involved in the final Test match in Newlands next week will be released to play for their franchises before the squad assembles on January 9.

"There have been a number of batsmen performance good form in domestic cricket, and Elgar fully deserves his chance," Hudson added. "He was the leading run-scorer in the One-Day Cup (567 runs) and also had the best average (81). In addition he gives us very useful bowling options as a left-arm spinner. "Kleinveldt played a significant role with the ball in helping the Cobras to win the One-Day Cup and he also has a lot of possible as a lower-order power hitter." Kleinveldt was the second-highest wicket-taker for the Cobras, taking 13 wickets in nine matches.

ODI squad

AB de Villiers (capt & wk), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, JP Duminy , Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Jacques Kallis, Rory Kleinveldt, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

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Sri Lanka scored their ninth Test match win outside the sub-continent and most likely the most significant ever, when they outclassed South Africa by 208 runs with a full day to spare in the second Test on Thursday. It was a dramatic fightback by the tourists, who lost the first Test by an innings, and they now go to the third Test match starting at Sahara Park Newlands on Tuesday with everything to play for. Having broken their Test match losing streak in South Africa, they will now believe they can go one better and win their first series here.

“Sri Lanka outplayed us in every department on a pitch that suited their style of play,” South African captain Graeme Smith said. “We were poor from day one and we now need to find a way to bounce back in the third Test.” South Africa, set a victory target of 450, again produced a unsatisfactory top order performance and at one stage it looked as though they might be bowled out for less than their first innings record low-score of 168.AB de Villiers (69 off 141 balls) and Dale Steyn (43 off 125 balls) delayed the predictable with a seventh wicket stand of 99 before the end came quickly against the second new ball.

The fading light caused Sri Lanka to bowl with their spinners but man of the match Rangana Herath would most likely have bowled in any event. The harder ball gave him a bit more pace and bounces off the pitch and he completed with an innings return of 5/79 and a match return of 9/128. Sri Lanka produced nearly all the stand-out cricket in the match with Thilan Samaraweera and Kumar Sangakkara both scoring centuries, debutant Dinesh Chandimal getting half-centuries in both innings and both Chanaka Welegedara and Herath claiming five-wicket hauls.

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For a team that has almost always been near the summit of the Test rankings, South Africa's recent home record is amazingly ordinary - no series wins in more than three years. Their performances at Kingsmead in that period are similarly bleak losing to each of the other major contenders for the title of world's best Test team. Graeme Smith and his side get the chance to erase both those blots this week as they take on a rambling Sri Lanka.

After subsiding for below 200 in both innings of the first Test, the Sri Lanka batsmen won't be overly excited at the sight of a green-tinged track. In a bid to bolster the batting, Sri Lanka are think over bringing in highly rated wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Chandimal in place of Kaushal Silva, who hasn't had the best of times in his three matches as substitute for regular glove man Prasanna Jayawardene.

Sri Lankan cricket is the number of Tests they have gone without a victory since the retirement of their greatest player, Muttiah Muralitharan, last year. That now stands at 15, but almost as upsetting is that in only two of those matches have Sri Lanka managed to bowl out the opposition twice. Adding to the troubles on the field, are the many problems off it. A bankrupt board which is under pressure to pay player salaries, and has forever postponed its domestic matches.

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When discussion turns to contenders for the top spot in Test cricket, South Africa feature highly in the debate. Everything suggests that should be well within their grasp. Sri Lanka have had a poor 2011 since reaching the World Cup final and have suffered three successive series defeats; against England, Australia and Pakistan. Although each was only a 1-0 margin there was a clear gap between them and their opposition. It's a void that they'll struggle to thin against South Africa.

There was always going to be a tough period in Sri Lanka's history when Muttiah Muralitharan departed the scene and the bowling attack is thin. However, in many ways the bigger concern is the form of the top order. With the honourable exception of Kumar Sangakkara the big names have failed to fire constantly. More is needed from Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera.

It will be a severe challenge for them against Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander, who made an inspiring start to his Test career against Australia. They will be looking forward to the prospect of testing out the Sri Lankan batsmen on a bouncy, green Centurion pitch. South Africa, though, have to take this series by the scruff of the neck if their reputation isn't to suffer. They have not always coped well when prospect have been high.

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Ajantha Mendis has been included in Sri Lanka's 16-man Test squad for the tour of South Africa in December ahead of Suraj Randiv. There was no place for the experienced batsman Thilan Samaraweera, who continues to be ignored after having been axed for the Pakistan series as well. The squad also contains fast bowler Dilhara Fernando in place of the injured Dhammika Prasad. Fernando, Chanaka Welegedara, Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal complete the Sri Lanka pace attack with Rangana Herath the second spinner.

Samaraweera's exclusion for the second straight tour puts a question mark over his career. Duleep Mendis, Sri Lanka's chairman of selectors had earlier said Samaraweera would not figure in the long-term plans of the selectors who intended to give more chances to youngsters. Sri Lanka familiar to his absence against Australia by batting the captain Tillakaratne Dilshan in the middle order while Lahiru Thirimanne opened with Tharanga Paranavitana

Wicketkeeper Kaushal Silva, who made his Test debut in that series, has been included in place of the injured Prasanna Jayawardene. Allrounder Kosala Kulasekara lost his spot to Thisara Perera while the batsman Dimuth Karunaratne was also included. Sri Lanka plays three Tests in South Africa followed by a five-match ODI series. The first Test starts in Centurion on December 15.

Sri Lanka squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva (wk), Lahiru Thirimanne, Dimuth Karunaratne, Chanaka Welegedara, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Thisara Perera, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath

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