South Africa v Sri Lanka, 2016-17
Wisden's review of the fifth ODI, South Africa v Sri Lanka, 2016-17
15-Apr-2017
At Centurion, February 10, 2017 (day/night). South Africa won by 88 runs. Toss: Sri Lanka.
Chasing a second consecutive 5-0 win in home one-day series after they had seen off Australia in October, South Africa began with a towering 384 for six. De Kock and Amla got things going with 187 in 26 overs, de Kock hitting 16 fours from 87 balls and scoring his fourth one-day international hundred in six innings at Centurion. Amla also enjoys the place - this was his fifth in 12 - and picked up fluency, lasting into the 49th over for his 154. He faced 134 balls, hitting 15 fours and, uncharacteristically for a player who tends to value poise over power, five sixes. Sri Lanka fell some way short but, for the first time in the series, were not bowled out, and could celebrate Gunaratne's maiden ODI century. He put on 93 for the sixth wicket with Pathirana, and an unbroken 97 for the ninth with Lakmal, Sri Lanka's fast-bowling find of the tour. They might have managed more had Morris not kept his head amid the hitting to take a career-best four for 31.
Man of the Match: H. M. Amla. Man of the Series: F. du Plessis.
Chasing a second consecutive 5-0 win in home one-day series after they had seen off Australia in October, South Africa began with a towering 384 for six. De Kock and Amla got things going with 187 in 26 overs, de Kock hitting 16 fours from 87 balls and scoring his fourth one-day international hundred in six innings at Centurion. Amla also enjoys the place - this was his fifth in 12 - and picked up fluency, lasting into the 49th over for his 154. He faced 134 balls, hitting 15 fours and, uncharacteristically for a player who tends to value poise over power, five sixes. Sri Lanka fell some way short but, for the first time in the series, were not bowled out, and could celebrate Gunaratne's maiden ODI century. He put on 93 for the sixth wicket with Pathirana, and an unbroken 97 for the ninth with Lakmal, Sri Lanka's fast-bowling find of the tour. They might have managed more had Morris not kept his head amid the hitting to take a career-best four for 31.
Man of the Match: H. M. Amla. Man of the Series: F. du Plessis.