SL in SA: Proteas win high-scoring 4th ODI

Man-of-the-match Faf du Plessis smashed 185 off 141 deliveries to ensure South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 40 runs in the fourth ODI despite Upul Tharanga's heroics at Cape Town on Tuesday (7).

Electing to bat, South Africa posted 367-5 and bowled out Sri Lanka for 327 with 11 deliveries to spare. 

Du Plessis smashed 16 fours and three sixes and shared two important partnerships with opener Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers for the second and third wickets. 

De Kock, who hit 55 off 46 deliveries with seven fours and two sixes, put on 100 runs for the second wicket with du Plessis, who went on to add another 137 runs for the third wicket with de Villiers. 

De Villiers hit 64 off 62 balls inclusive of four boundaries.

Sachith Pathirana and Lahiru Kumara picked two wickets each.

Sri Lanka made a good start with openers Niroshan Dickwella and skipper Tharanga putting on a stand of 139 runs.

Dickwella was first to fall after making 58 off 47 deliveries inclusive of nine fours. 

Tharanga went on to smash 119 runs off 90 deliveries hitting 11 fours and seven sixes before falling as the third Sri Lankan wicket at 216. 

Sandun Weerakkody, replacing Dinesh Chandimal, hit a brisk 58 off 51 deliveries inclusive of seven fours and a six.   

Wayne Parnell picked four wickets while Kagiso Rabada, Dwaine Pretorius and Imran Tahir picked three wickets each. 

The fifth and final ODI will be played at the Centurion on Friday (10).

South Africa 367 for 5 wickets (50) (Quinton de Kock 55, Faf du Plessis 185, AB de Villiers 64, JP Duminy 20, Farhaan Behardien 36n.o, Sachith Pathirana 2/55, Lahiru Kumara 2.73)

Sri Lanka 327 all out (48.1) (Niroshan Dickwella 58, Upul Tharanga 119, Kusal Mendis 29, Sandun Weerakkody 58, Asela Gunaratne 38, Wayne Parnell 4/58, Kagiso Rabada 2/50, Dwaine Pretorius 2/55, Imran Tahir 2/76)