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SL experience key for Proteas

Johannesburg -  The Proteas feel their testing tour of Sri Lanka has been an invaluable experience, and will be beneficial for future tours on the sub-continent.

Proteas all-rounder, JP Duminy, achieved the most success in the conditions, and says familiarity and past experiences were extremely useful.

"It’s quite similar to India, Dubai and Bangladesh," Duminy said.

"I have been to these places a few times over the years and had a fair bit of success as well.

"So it’s probably paying some dividends on this tour, I’m very pleased with the way my own game has gone."

Duminy was named as the man of the three-match T20 series, following two half-centuries as well as three wickets with the ball.

He also became South Africa’s leading run-scorer in T20 cricket during the series, and passed 1 000 T20 international runs.

The Sri Lankan spinners dominated the wickets table, and exposed some cracks in the armoury of some of the Proteas’ inexperienced batsmen.

The top-order performed for the first time in Tuesday’s match, a needed confidence boost despite the loss.

"Most of the sub-continental teams have world-class spinners," Duminy remarked.

"Being able to combat their attacks is about experience.

"As you play against them regularly you sort of get used to them and you find ways of getting on top of them.

"We have a great series coming up in Dubai against Pakistan’s world-class spinners like Afridi and Ajmal so it will be a good test for us, especially looking ahead to the World Cup in Bangladesh next year."

Duminy says the team takes a lot of pride from their maiden series win in Sri Lanka against their No.1 ranked opponents.

"Winning in these conditions is not easy," Duminy explained.

"We have to take a lot of confidence out of this win, especially with the World Twenty20 being in these conditions.

"Experience is the key; these players will get more opportunities against Pakistan and India later this year and hopefully they will have plans in place to combat their spinners," concluded Duminy.

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