All-round South Africa Win T20 Series

Hambantota: South Africa bowlers once again proved their worth as they defended 145, beat Sri Lanka by 22 runs in 2nd Twenty20 at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium here on Sunday.

They batted with grit and determination, and their bowlers put their hand up once again to register an easy win.

The host never got going once again, their over reliance on the seniors is hurting them badly. Sangakkara chipped in with 39 but got no support from the remaining batsmen.

The visitors lost the ODI series, but have something to show for their efforts on the tour. They now have an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

Sri Lanka will remain No. 1 in the rankings if they win the dead rubber on Tuesday. If they lose that as well, Pakistan will officially be the top T20 side.

Earlier, Aggressive batting by JP Duminy and David Miller steered South Africa to 145/6.

Duminy scored 30 off 23 balls and Miller hit a 21-ball 36 after the tourists, who elected to bat after winning the toss, were reduced to 48/3 in the ninth over.

Seamer Nuwan Kulasekara finished with two for 22, while Sachithra Senanayake claimed two for 18 in four steady overs of off-spin bowling despite the windy conditions.

Opener Quinton de Kock scored 19 and star batsman AB de Villiers was run out after making 15 off 14.

Earlier, South Africa have won the toss and have opted to bat.

South Africa unchanged. Two changes to Sri Lanka -- Tilakratne Dilshan and Jeevan Mendis out, Mahela and Nuwan Kulasekara in.

Teams:

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene, Kushal Janith Perera, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Dinesh Chandimal (Capt.), Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Sachithra Senanayake, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wj), Henry Davids, Faf du Plessis (Capt.), AB de Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, David Wiese, Wayne Parnell, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

Brief scores
South Africa 145/6 (Miller 36, Duminy 30, Senanayake 2-18, Kulasekara 2-22)
Sri Lanka 123/7 (Sangakkara 38, Tsotsobe 2-17, Morkel 2-34)
Result South Africa won by 22 runs
MOM David Miller (Sri Lanka)

Scores	Upcoming	Results
Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan - 3rd ODI 3rd ODI - South Africa v Pakistan - December 22, 12:00 GMT 4th Test - Australia v India - December 26-30, 23:30 GMT 3rd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 80 runs 2nd ODI - South Africa v Pakistan at Cape Town Pakistan won by 81 runs

Dilshan Powers Sri Lanka to Victory [+]

A superb 74 from Tilakratne Dilshan coupled with cameos from Mahela Jayawardene and Thissara Perera powered Sri Lanka won the final Twenty20 international against South Africa by six wickets in Hambantota on Tuesday to retain their number one ranking in the shortest format.

All-round South Africa Win T20 Series [+]

South Africa bowlers once again proved their worth as they defended 145, beat Sri Lanka by 22 runs in 2nd Twenty20 at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium here on Sunday.

Duminy Stars in Low-scoring Thriller [+]

JP Duminy hit a fighting hundred and then returned to pick up 3 wickets as South Africa sneaked through by 12 runs.

All-round Sri Lanka Blow Away Insipid South Africa [+]

Lakmal 3-24, Mendis 3-36 star with ball while Dilshan (99) as Sri Lanka beat South Africa by 128 runs to clinch the series by 4-1 at the Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka Rest Big Guns in Dead Rubber [+]

Having taken an unbeatable 3-1 led in the five-match ODI series against South Africa, Sri Lanka decided to rest the senior troika of Jayawardene, Malinga and Herath from the final match on Wednesday.

All Round Sri Lanka Secure Series [+]

Mendis 4/51 and Malinga 3/52 followed by Dilshan (115*) and Sangakkara (91) helped Sri Lanka beat South Africa by 7 wickets to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match ODI series.

South Africa Stay Alive With Easy Win [+]

Miller (85*) and Tsotsobe (4-22) and Behardien (3-19) did well with the ball to help South Africa defeat Sri Lanka by 56 runs in the 3rd ODI in Pallekele.

Injured Hashim Amla May Miss Sri Lanka ODIs [+]

Hashim Amla is struggling to be fit for the next two one-day internationals in Sri Lanka after suffering a groin strain in Tuesday's defeat by the home side.

Sri Lanka 2-0 up Against South Africa [+]

Rangana Herath took two crucial wickets as Sri Lanka defeated South Africa in the rain-affected one-dayer in Colombo, taking a 2-0 lead in five-match series.

Sangakkara 169 Powers Sri Lanka Win [+]

Sangakkara (169) helps Sri Lanka inflicted a huge 180 run defeat on South Africa at the Premadasa stadium in Colombo on Saturday.