Sri Lanka in SA
Smith, AB lead SA's charge
2012-01-22 14:34
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Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers (Gallo Images)
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Johannesburg - Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers combined for a third-wicket partnership of 186 runs to steer South Africa to 312 for four in the fifth and final one-day international between South Africa and Sri Lanka in Johannesburg on Sunday.
LIVE scoring from the Wanderers
Put in to bat by Tillakaratne Dilshan, Smith achieved his highest score at the Wanderers and against Sri Lanka, compiling his first ODI century since September 2009.
The opener pulled Thisara Perera to midwicket for four to bring up his second consecutive half-century (off 81 balls), for which he received a rousing ovation which he acknowledged all around the ground.
Midway through his innings, his runs slowed down, but once De Villiers joined him at the crease and took the pressure off, he was able to bat freely and brought up his second 50 off 48 balls.
He was eventually dismissed for 125 from 143 deliveries, with nine fours and four sixes when Dinesh Chandimal took a high catch at midwicket off Lasith Malinga in the 46th over.
De Villiers was dropped once on 84, by Dilshan at extra cover, but by then he had already done most of the damage as he too made his highest score against Sri Lanka and at the ground.
The skipper raced to his 12th ODI century off 88 balls and was unbeaten on 125 off 98 deliveries, smashing 20 fours and four sixes.
Alviro Petersen, who made six, opened the batting with Smith but poked at a delivery from Malinga, which turned away from him and resulted in an outside edge to Angelo Mathews at first slip.
Sachithra Senanayake, in only his second ODI, took his first wicket to remove Faf du Plessis, who came in at three and contributed 24 runs.
Du Plessis tried to loft the spin bowler towards long-on, but failed to clear Mathews in the deep.
Big-hitting all-rounder Albie Morkel, lifted up the order, was run out for 18.
The Sri Lankan bowlers struggled with Malinga taking 2/79 and Senanayake bagging 1/50.
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