Kimberley, South Africa, jan 21: Sri Lanka earned its first victory of the series against South Africa on Friday after Tillakaratne Dilshan scored 87 and Thisara Perera finished off an impressive run chase with a majestic six for a five-wicket victory in the fourth one-day international.
Perera hit an arching ball out of the ground to secure the victory with eight balls remaining, taking Sri Lanka to 304-5 after South Africa captain AB de Villiers had smacked 96 in leading the hosts to an imposing 299-7 at Diamond Oval.
South Africa won the series on Tuesday in Bloemfontein when it took an unbeatable 3-0 lead and looked set to remain unbeaten until Dilshan's run-a-ball 87 set Sri Lanka on its way.
The tourists needed their best score of the series so far for a victory but were dealt an early setback when Upul Tharanga was caught by De Villiers for six in the fourth over.
But Kumar Sangakkara joined Dilshan for an 83-run partnership to get Sri Lanka back on track, before Sangakkara went out on 32 when Alviro Petersen made a spectacular leaping catch above his head.
Dinesh Chandimal then partnered with Dilshan to take the total up to 168 before the captain was caught by Duminy at short extra cover.
With Lahiru Thirimanne and Chandimal gone to leave Sri Lanka 246-5, Perera guided Sri Lanka home together with Angelo Mathews (21 not out).
After South Africa won the toss and opted to bat, former Proteas captain Graeme Smith gave his ODI credentials a much-needed boost with 68 off 69 balls, only his second half-century in a year.
Smith's and Alviro Petersen made a brilliant start averaging more than seven an over.
Their opening partnership ended at 84 with Sri Lanka's fifth change of bowler, Rangana Herath. With his first ball of the 14th over, Herath induced a slice off Petersen, on 37, for Upul Tharanga to make a low, running catch.
De Villiers came in and wasted no time. He took 31 balls to reach his 28th half-century, whacking counterpart Tillakaratne Dilshan with a third six in eight deliveries. De Villiers took 19 off Dilshan's over.
Dilshan caught Smith, however, off Lasith Malinga at 171-2 in the 26th over. After seven boundaries and a six, Smith popped a legside delivery to short midwicket.
Colin Ingram lasted only four balls for 1, then JP Duminy helped De Villiers take South Africa past 200 in the 31st over. But the run-rate was slowly declining.
South Africa was 242-3 in the 39th before Duminy edged behind off Thisara Perera for 36 off 47 balls. His departure started a slide.
De Villiers was next, moving across the crease but missing Perera's delivery which hit the middle stump. De Villiers hit eight fours and three sixes in his entertaining 76-ball knock.
