South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 40 runs, lead series 4-0: As it happened

South Africa managed to beat Sri Lanka is closely fought encounter in Cape Town. Sri Lanka, chasing a mammoth 368 for a win, were in the game until the 40th over before losing wickets in a heap. South Africa bowled out Sri Lanka for 327 and won by 40 runs. This was after Upul Tharanga made a quickfire 119 to keep Sri Lanka in the hunt.

Batting first, South Africa were helped to the target by Faf du Plessis who scored his career best 185. Fifties from Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers were the other hightlights of the first innings.

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

0049 hrs IST: All over! South Africa win by 40 runs after Wayne Parnell bowls Sandakan. Chasing 368 for the first win of the series, Sri Lanka are bowled out for 327 and South Africa now lead the five-match series 4-0

0041 hrs IST: WICKET! Parnell strikes! Sri Lanka lose their ninth wicket as Madhushanka drives one straight to covers. They still need 43 runs but doesn’t look realistic now

0038 hrs IST: WICKET! Stunner from De Kock! Pathirana cannot believe it! What an effort from De Kock. Pathirana plays it very late, trying to get it past De Kock but he just times his jump to perfection and ball sticks in the flap off the gloves. Sri Lanka lose eighth wicket

0033 hrs IST: WICKET! That is gone. Such a tame dismissal after a brilliant innings from Weera! A full toss and he somehow manages to get a top edge off it. Parnell runs from short backward point position to take the catch

0029 hrs IST: Consecutive boundaries for Weerakkody! Both past the short third-man. He has played a gem of an innings in Cape Town. Sri Lanka are relying on him to chase down this target

0022 hrs IST: WICKET! Gunaratne gone! He has pulled it straight to mid-wicket. Brilliant from Rabada as he pulls back the line and batsman tries to pull it hard. Straight to the fielder

0020 hrs IST: FIFTY! Weerakkody gets to his maiden ODI fifty off just 46 balls. This is a great moment to reach the milestone. But can he help Sri Lanka cross the line?

0018 hrs IST: Sri Lanka are 299 for the loss of four wickets after 43 overs. They need 69 more runs off 42 balls and they have six wickets in hand. Can they pull it off?

0003 hrs IST: DROPPED! Shamshi puts a catch on the ropes. That is high up in the air and taking a top edge off Guna’s bat. Shamshi settles below it but could not catch it

0000 hrs IST: Six runs from the 39th over. Sri Lanka are 266 for the loss of four wickets. They need 102 more runs from 66 balls with six wickets in hand. South Africa were 254 for 3 at the same stage

2343 hrs IST: DROPPED! Will this be costly for South Africa? Weerakkody pulls and it goes straight to deep square-leg where Imran Tahir is in no position to take the catch. He has put down a sitter

2342 hrs IST: Over number 35 gone in Cape Town. Sri Lanka are 237 for the loss of four wickets. They need 131 more runs from 90 balls to win this match. Rabada is the bowler for South Africa

2334 hrs IST: WICKET! De Silva adjudged LBW! Brilliant from Rabada. That is a full yorker that hits De Silva on the pads. Umpire has no doubt in his mind. Sri Lank lose their fourth wicket

2330 hrs IST: Now it is becoming difficult for Sri Lanka. The runs have frozen for them. Below 102 balls remaining in their innings and they need 144 runs to win this match with nine wickets in hand

2320 hrs IST: 30 overs bowled and Sri Lanka are 217 for the loss of three wickets. They need 151 more runs from 120 balls. Imrah Tahir is the bowled. De Silva and Weerakkody the two batsmen out there

2315 hrs IST: WICKET! Upal Tharanga is caught at point! A brilliant innings of 119 comes to an end as Wayne Parnell removes Upul Tharanga. Could not keep it down as he tried to cut one. Sri Lanka still need over 150 runs

2307 hrs IST: WICKET! Mendis has to go. Wayne Parnell strikes! That is a big wicket for South Africa. Against the run of play, Mendis is gone. He had shuffled across and Parnell banged in a bouncer. Trying to pull, Mendis misses it and it brushes his gloves on the way and straight to the keeper

2301 hrs IST: Sri Lanka are 200 for the loss of one wicket after 26 overs. They need 168 more runs from 144 balls. Pretty much achievable if they keep their wickets in hand

2254 hrs IST: CENTURY! Upal Tharanga has a hundred with a six! What an innings from Tharanga. The stand-in skipper for Sri Lanka has played a brilliant innings and has kept Sri Lanka in the game

2247 hrs IST: Review! Imran Tahir is convinced that he has got the wicket of Mendis. Umpire says not out. Tahir asks AB to review and South Africa go for it. The impact of the pad and ball is just in line but the googly is turning way too much. Will just kiss the leg-stump. Umpire’s call and it stays not out

2244 hrs IST: 22 overs have been bowled and Sri Lanka are 170 for the loss of one wicket. They still need 198 more runs from 168 balls to win the fourth ODI against South Africa

2234 hrs IST: 150 up for Sri Lanka in the 20th over. This is a nice platform for them to claim the first win of the series. They are chasing a big total but something which is achievable

2225 hrs IST: N Dickwella c Behardien b Pretorius 58
Pretorius breaks the opening stand at 139. The tourists are much ahead as they still have to chase 229 to win the fourth ODI. Mendis makes his way into the middle

2215 hrs IST: Dickwella brings up his third ODI half-century while Tharanga seems unstoppable as he has added 73 from 45 balls. Sri Lanka reach 137 after 15 overs.

2200 hrs IST: Tharanga takes a single as he plays down towards the fielder at point and brings up his 31st ODI half-century. SL 84 for no loss after 8 overs, Dickwella 28. South Africa were at 47/1

2150 hrs IST: Niroshan Dickwella, Upul Tharanga provide Sri Lanka a start they were looking for. The tourists reach 56 for the loss of no wicket after five overs. Tharanga 37 not out and Dickwella batting on 17

South Africa set a target of 368 for Sri Lanka in the fourth ODI at Cape Town. N Dickwella, DS Weerakkody to begin Sri Lanka’s chase.

2050 hrs IST: Faf du Plessis c Gunaratne b Madhushanka 185
Du Plessis makes his way back after a heroic knock, smashed 16 boundaries and three sixes. Plessis hit it high and down to long-on and Gunaratne takes it comfortably. Faf falls three runs short of equaling Gary Kirsten’s record for highest individual score by a South African batsman.

2044 hrs IST: 4,6,0,4,6,2 Faf du Plessis smashes the ball all over the park as he takes South Africa to 317/4 at the end of 46th over. Du Plessis’s 175* is now the highest score at Newlands Cricket Stadium, surpasses David Warner’s 173

Du Plessis his it straight back over the bowler’s head for a maximum and bring 300 up for the hosts. Also, brings up his career best ODI score and his first 150.

South Africa lose AB de Villiers and JP Duminy before Faf du Plessis continues to help the hosts set a big total against Sri Lanka.

Kumara bowls a yorker to Du Plessis and he directs it to the leg side for four and that brings up his seventh ODI century.

South Africa get to the 200 run mark
The wicket of Quinton de Kock was only to be followed by another near century run parthership between du Plessis and AB de Villiers. du plessis is only three runs away from getting to his century.

OUT! Quinton de Kock 55 c Tharanga b Pathirana, South Africa 103/2
Pathirana tosses the ball up and de Kock only nicks it to the slips. No hundred for the Protea Wicket keeper today, a strong second wicket stand ended.

Quinton de Kock gets to his half centuryin 40 balls. Du Plessis and De Kock have now put on 84 runs for the second wicket and South Africa are 87/1. De Kock has go to his fifty in 40 balls, South Africa are 88/1 after 14 overs

Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock have nullified the jolt caused by Amla’s dismissal and South Africa have now raced to 53/1 in nine overs.

The stadium is far from a full house just yet. Kulasekara was the man to bowl the first over and Hashim Amla was the man on strike. South Africa ended the over without losing a wicket but Amla didn’t last long after that.
In the third ball of the second over, he tried to drive a short of a length delivery outside off from Lahiru Kumara and ended up edging it to slips. South Africa had lost their first wicket for just three runs.