Du Plessis made his seventh ODI hundred
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis and batsman David Miller proved to be too much for Sri Lanka to handle as they scored 105 and 117 respectively to lead their side to a 121-run win in the second ODI in Durban.
Opting to bowl first, Sri Lanka struck early on as Suranga Lakmal trapped opener Hashim Amla lbw for 15.
Just as South Africa were on the verge of rebuilding their innings, Quinton de Kock was dismissed by Dhananjaya de Silva for 17.
Despite losing captain AB de Villiers and JP Duminy shortly after, Faf du Plessis and David Miller came to the rescue with a 117-run partnership, during which Du Plessis brought up his hundred and Miller his half-century.
With the duo having brought the Proteas back into contention, Sri Lanka were in desperate need of a wicket.
But, they would have to wait until the 42nd over to get it when Nuwan Kulasekara removed Du Plessis for 105, which came off 120 balls and included seven boundaries and a six.
South Africa continued to take the attack to Sri Lanka though as Miller and Chris Morris put together a 60-run partnership before Morris was sent packing by Lakmal for 26.
Miller went on to make 117 off 98 balls, which included three boundaries and six sixes, as South Africa finished on 307/6 off their 50 overs.
Miller celebrates after scoring his fourth ODI century
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Lakmal was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Kulasekara, De Silva, Lakshan Sandakan and Sachith Pathirana snapped up one wicket apiece.
Chasing 308 to win, Sri Lanka got off to a solid start before losing Niroshan Dickwella for 25.
Stand-in captain Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva fell in quick succession before Dinesh Chandimal and Asela Gunaratne temporarily steadied the innings.
Duminy provided the breakthrough for the Proteas as he ran Gunaratne out for 18, which ignited Sri Lanka’s collapse once again as they went from 119/5 to being bundled out for 186. Chandimal ended up being Sri Lanka’s top-scorer with 36 runs.
Duminy, Wayne Parnell and Imran Tahir took two wickets apiece, while Morris, Kagiso Rabada and Andile Phehlukwayo claimed one wicket each.
Du Plessis was named Man of the Match.