Sri Lanka's spin bowlers wrecked South Africa's 10-match unbeaten streak in Johannesburg on Wednesday night, clinching a four-run victory in the sixth and final One-Day International at the Wanderers. Faced with a modest target of 209 in 42 overs, five less than Sri Lanka's total in a rain-reduced match, South Africa were on target for victory when they reached 169 for four with eight overs remaining.
But Jhonty Rhodes missed a reverse sweep against offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan to start a slide in which the last six wickets fell for 35 runs. Offspinner Aravinda De Silva dismissed Mark Boucher and Justin Kemp in the space of three balls and top-scorer Neil Mckenzie was bowled for 47 by the first ball of the next over from Lankan skipper and left-arm spinner Sanath Jayasuriya.
Muralitharan came back for his final spell and bowled Roger Telemachus.
With 27 needed and one wicket left, South African captain Shaun Pollock hit sixes off Jayasuriya and Muralitharan. Thirteen were needed off the last over but Pollock could manage only a single off Jayasuriya's third ball. Allan Donald hit a single and Pollock hit the penultimate ball for a straight six. He went for a big hit off the last ball but instead found Jayasuriya who ran out Donald.
It was a remarkable comeback by Sri Lanka who lost the first five matches of the series and were 21 for three after being sent in when a violent thunderstorm stopped play for two hours. Bureau Report