Kumar Sangakkara hit a stunning 169 as Sri Lanka cruised to a convincing 180-run victory over South Africa in the first one-day international in Colombo.
The wicketkeeper began slowly but upped the pace considerably in the last 10 overs as the home side posted 320 for five after being put in to bat by AB De Villiers.
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Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara in full flight against South Africa on Saturday. PIC/AFP
And the tourists never looked like getting close to chasing that down with only five batsmen getting into double figures as they slumped to 140 all out.
South Africa’s reply got off to the worst possible start as Colin Ingram went first ball to an inswinging Lasith Malinga yorker which clattered his middle stump.
Hashim Amla was missing with a sore neck and there were just 29 on the board when his replacement at three, JP Duminy, fell for 15, Sangakarra doing brilliantly to get forward to a thin edge off the bowling of Shaminda Eranga.
De Villers survived a caught-and-bowled shortly after with Eranga putting down a catch as the skipper and Alviro Petersen put on 44 to steady the ship.
But that partnership came to an end as De Villers (23) was bowled by Rangana Herath and just eight balls later Petersen (29) was gone with Sangakkara taking another catch, this time off Thisara Perera.u00a0
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