An
unconvincing
batting
display
saw
Sri
Lanka
post
a
slightly
disappointing
total
of
203-9
after
the
hosts
won
the
toss
for
the
third
and
final
match.

However,
that
modest
target
proved
well
beyond
the
tourists,
who
were
undone
by
Theekshana’s
off-spin
in
an
innings
interrupted
by
rain.

Theekshana
took
4-37
as
the
Proteas
were
skittled
for
125,
ensuring
Sri
Lanka
secured
a
78-run
victory
in
style.

Charith
Asalanka,
the
top
run-scorer
in
the
series,
was
the
sole
Sri
Lanka
player
to
excel
with
the
bat,
scoring
47
off
71
deliveries.

Dhananjaya
de
Silva
(31)
did
threaten
to
post
a
big
score
yet
he
failed
to
build
on
his
encouraging
start
and
Dushmantha
Chameera
added
a
quick
29
off
39
balls.

But
the
success
of
the
South
Africa
spinners,
with
captain
Keshav
Maharaj
taking
3-38
and
George
Linde
(2-32)
and
Tabraiz
Shamsi
(2-31)
also
excelling,
provided
clear
encouragement
for
Theekshana
and
the
Sri
Lanka
attack.

They
wasted
no
time
in
making
inroads,
reducing
South
Africa
to
19-3
inside
five
overs.
Janneman
Malan
(18)
and
Heinrich
Klaasen
(22)
steadied
the
ship
with
a
stand
of
36
but
Theekshana
got
Malan
caught
in
the
slips
and
then
trapped
Klaasen
lbw
either
side
of
Wiaan
Mulder
(2)
being
bowled
by
Wanindu
Hasaranga
(2-32).

Linde
(18)
and
Andile
Phehlukwayo
(17)
mounted
something
of
a
recovery
from
54-6,
but
it
did
not
last,
and
it
was
Theekshana
who
had
the
final
say
when
he
drew
an
edge
from
Maharaj.

Theek
tough

The
selection
of
Theekshana
proved
inspirational
and
captain
Dasun
Shanaka
heaped
praise
on
the
21-year-old
at
the
post-match
presentation.

“Theekshana
was
our
trump
card,”
said
the
skipper.
“He’s
more
of
a
T20
bowler
but
I
used
him
wisely
in
this
match.
He’s
a
real
prospect
going
forward.”

Chameera’s
all-round
impact

Theekshana,
however,
was
not
the
man
of
the
match.
That
honour
went
to
Chameera,
who
along
with
Klaasen
struck
the
most
fours
in
a
low-scoring
contest,
finding
the
rope
three
times.

He
followed
up
his
effort
with
the
bat
by
taking
2-16,
with
the
early
dismissals
of
Reeza
Hendricks
and
Rassie
van
der
Dussen
putting
South
Africa
in
a
hole
they
never
looked
like
escaping.