Johannesburg (ANI) : South Africa won the third one-day international against Sri Lanka by four runs through the Duckworth Lewis method on Tuesday at Bloemfontein. They have also won the five-match series after beating the Lankans in the first two matches. South Africa had scored 179 runs with loss of four wickets by the 34th over when rain stopped the game from proceeding further.

At the start of 34th over, the Proteas were three runs behind the required run rate but Lasith Malinga bowled a loose over and conceded eight runs, which eventually cost the Lankans the match. Malinga had started well when he took two wickets in his first spell of four overs in which he also gave away just 12 runs leaving the Proteas quivering on 29 for two, The sports24 reports. After Tillakaratne Dilshan scalped the wicket of Alviro Peterson, Faf du Plessis, coming in at four, and JP Duminy shared a much-needed61-run partnership before Duminy was run out.

Du Plessis was also run out after a match-saving knock of 72 runs and after this captain AB de Villiers batted sensibly along with Albie Morkel to secure a win for them, keeping the rain in their mind. Sri Lanka on the other hand scored 266 for nine with the help of Upal Tharanga’s innings of 58 (50 off 54 balls) and Kumar Sangakkara’s innings of 38. This was De Villiers first series win in his maiden series as captain of the squad.

Perth (PTI) : Manoj Tiwary was done in by a Brett Lee scorcher during his ODI debut in Brisbane back in 2007-08 and he wants to move on from that.

Irfan Pathan won the man-of-the match award during the memorable Perth Test on that very tour and he too wants to move on.

Both are in the ODI squad for the tri-series and they are keen to make every chance count during the next one month.

“The 100 against West Indies has been my breakthrough knock and I am more matured now. Having played against the likes of Dale Steyn in the IPL and batting against Brett Lee and James Pattinson at the KKR nets has certainly helped me,” Tiwary told PTI on Monday.

His teammate Irfan also believes in action rather than resting on past laurels.

“I had a good international debut in Australia and I won the man-of-the-match against them at Perth. But that’s past now and it will be a new series where I will have to perform to the best of my abilities,” Pathan said over phone from Vadodara.

When both were asked the same question as to whether it is difficult for a new player to join a team that has been losing a lot, the two cricketers tried to put things into perspective.

“It takes one match to turn things around. I believe our team has the ability to do that and God willing that turnaround will happen in Adelaide,” Pathan remarked.

Manoj on his part said, “The team may have lost a few matches, but in the past few months that I have been a part of the ODI set-up, the atmosphere in the dressing room has been fantastic. I have got a lot of help from the seniors which has made me feel settled.”

Asked about his preparation for Australia, Manoj said,”My subsequent tours with the India A team has helped me prepare well. I am confident that I can do well on bouncy pitches.”

With Baroda knocked out in the league stage, Irfan didn’t have too many competitive matches to fall back on and is looking forward towards playing club matches.

“I would like to get a bit of match practice before I leave for Australia. I planning to play a few games in Baroda.

I will work a bit on fine-tuning my batting and also like to bowl a few overs”, Irfan said.

“I believe in giving my hundred per cent and have faith in God. When you play for your country, the hunger to succeed will always be there,” the talented all-rounder remarked.

Cape Town (S. Africa) (ANI) : Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced two enforced changes as well as a rotational change to the Proteas squad for the remainder of the five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.

“Hashim Amla has been forced to stand down because of family responsibilities while Rory Kleinveldt has a relatively long-term injury,” commented CSA selection convener Andrew Hudson.

In addition, the team management has decided to rest Jacques Kallis.

According to Sports24, the replacements are batsman Alviro Petersen, all-rounder Vernon Philander and batsman Colin Ingram.

Proteas squad: AB de Villiers (Titans, captain), Johan Botha (Warriors), JP Duminy (Cape Cobras), Faf du Plessis (Titans), Colin Ingram (Warriors), Albie Morkel (Titans), Morne Morkel (Titans), Wayne Parnell
(Warriors), Alviro Petersen (Highveld Lions), Robin Peterson (Cape Cobras), Vernon Philander (Cape Cobras), Graeme Smith (Cape Cobras), Dale Steyn (Cape Cobras), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (Warriors).