Sanga's hundred fuels Lankan win

Colombo, Agencies: Sri Lanka beat South Africa by 180 runs in the first one day international played at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday.

Kumar Sangakkara’s (169) highest one-day score was well complemented by the bowlers with three-wicket hauls from Thisara Perera (3/31) and Rangana Herath (3/25) and Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 2/11 helping the hosts skittle Proteas for a mere 140 in 31.5 overs.

Alviro Petersen (29) and Robin Peterson (29) were the joint top-scorers for South Africa in a lacklustre batting display that saw the visiting batsmen unable to counter quality pace and spin.  Earlier, Sangakkara’s epic innings helped the Lankans pile up 320-5.

He surpassed his previous best of 138 not out against India in 2005 after the hosts were sent in to bat in the first game of the five-match series against the Proteas.  Sangakkara’s 16th century in his 350th one-dayer steered Lanka to a commanding total after Dilshan had fallen cheaply in the fourth over, bowled by Chris Morris.

Sangakkara put on 70 for the second wicket with opener Upul Tharanga (43), 74 for the third with Mahela Jayawardene (42) and 123 for the fourth in which Lahiru Thirimanne’s contribution was just 17.