50 overs South Africa 367 for 5 (du Plessis 185, Pathirana 2-55) v Sri Lanka
Live Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Faf du Plessis unleashed a variety of drives during his 185 – the second-highest score by a South African in ODIs © Getty Images
Having already won the series on Saturday, South Africa’s batsmen filled their boots against a Sri Lankan attack with one foot and what looks like all of their hearts and minds on the plane. They posted the highest total at Newlands, overtaking the 354 for 3 they put on against Kenya in 2001.
Quinton de Kock scored his first fifty of the series, AB de Villiers his fiftieth fifty in his ODI career but Faf du Plessis stole the show.
His second century of the series also made him the holder of the second-highest individual score by a South African, surpassing Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 178 against Australia in September 2016 and three runs short of Gary Kirsten’s 188* against the UAE at the 1996 World Cup.
Sri Lanka could only watch.
Left-arm spinner Sachith Pathirana conceded less than six runs an over with four other bowlers costing the side more than seven runs an over. Lahiru Kumara, playing his just his fifth ODI, was the most expensive and leaked 73 runs from seven overs.
Things did not start too badly for Sri Lanka, though. Kumara dismissed Hashim Amla, playing a loose drive and edging to slip, in his first over. But that was as good as it got. De Kock took Kumara’s second over for 12 runs to announce his intent against anything too full, too wide and even on the pads.
Du Plessis was in an equally punishing mood and the pair raced to a century stand by the time Sri Lanka could have their first drink. De Kock brought up fifty off 40 balls and neither seam nor spin was spared. Lakshan Sandakan, who proved destructive on T20I debut, saw his first over go for 15 runs and South Africa took 26 off the first three overs of spin, forcing Sri Lanka to go back to the quicks, who also could not stop the bleeding.
Some relief came after the first break when de Kock edged Pathirana to Upul Tharanga at slip but it was short-lived.
Full report to follow
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s South Africa correspondent
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo