Sri Lanka prevail in high-scoring encounter

Sri Lanka A 335 for 3 (Tharanga 173*) beat South Africa A 309 (Bodi 153, Herath 4-48, Amerasinghe 3-67) by 26 runs
Scorecard

Upul Tharanga's big hundred outweighed Gulam Bodi's century to give Sri Lanka A a 26-run victory and a 2-1 lead after the third ODI against South Africa A in East London.

Upul Tharanga smashed a career-best 173 as he carried his bat on a placid track. He laid the ideal platform with Tharanga Paranavitana by adding 91 at a run-a-ball for the first wicket. He was involved in three other substantial partnerships, including 95 off 70 balls for the second wicket with Dilruwan Perera.

Faced with a target of 336, Bodi began with an assault on Sri Lankan fast bowler Suranga Lakmal, who leaked 36 runs in his first three overs. The opening stand of 87 with captain Alviro Petersen provided a solid start but with six of the South African batsmen managing only single-digit scores, Bodi was left with too much to do.

Wicketkeeper Heino Kuhn and Vaughn van Jaarsveld provided some support but fast bowler Ishara Amerasinghe sliced through the middle order to dampen South Africa's chances. The hosts' troubles were compounded when Bodi was bowled by left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, the most successful of the Sri Lankan bowlers with four wickets, soon after bringing up his 150 with a six. Bodi was the eighth man out, by when the asking-rate had climbed to almost 12, a rate the tailenders were unable to keep up with.

The two remaining matches in the series will be played on Friday and Sunday.