SOUTH Africa clinched their one-day series with Sri Lanka after just three matches as big knocks from debutant Reeza Hendricks and JP Duminy sealed a 78-run win.

The Proteas won the first two matches at a canter and they were again comfortable on Sunday, totalling 363-7 to set Sri Lanka a target they never looked capable of reaching.

Hendricks hit 102 off 89 balls in a stunning debut, while Duminy added 92 off 70, with Thisara Perera’s figures of 4-75 not nearly enough to keep the hosts in contention as his team-mates failed to pull their weight.

There was concern for South Africa in the field as captain Faf du Plessis departed early with a shoulder issue, although it was later clarified as a precaution.

The Proteas bowlers got the job done, however, and Sri Lanka were all out for 285 with over four overs remaining after Andile Phehlukwayo (3-74) removed dangerman Dhananjaya de Silva (84).

Hendricks and Duminy were not the only South African batsmen to impress, with Hashim Amla (59) building a one-sided opening partnership of 42 with Quinton de Kock (2).

Thisara’s dismissal of De Kock brought Hendricks to the crease and he and the Proteas kicked on, making a 59-run stand for the second wicket and then, after Du Plessis lasted just 14 deliveries, teaming up with Duminy.

\Duminy smashed eight fours and four maximums and the best South Africa pairing followed Lahiru Kumara’s clipping of Hendricks’ leg stump, bringing in David Miller (51) for a partnership of 103.

The tourists’ scoring rate stayed high after Duminy’s departure to Thisara, despite a series of late wickets, and Phehlukwayo contributed a very handy unbeaten 24 off 11 balls.

Lungi Ngidi (4-57) accounted for Sri Lanka’s top order and the Proteas kept chipping away even after their skipper’s departure.

De Silva arrived in the middle with his side 124-5, but he steadied the ship as a partnership of 95 with Akila Dananjaya (37) briefly threatened to trouble South Africa.

But Phehlukwayo removed De Silva as an attempted slog slipped behind to De Kock, prompting a late collapse as Sri Lanka’s fight died in the closing overs and Ngidi caught and bowled Suranga Lakmal (12) to seal victory.

Reeza Hendricks b Lahiru Kumara 102
Faf du Plessis c Suranga Lakmal b Thisara Perera 10
JP Duminy c Dhananjaya de Silva b Thisara Perera 92
David Miller c Dhananjaya de Silva b Thisara Perera 51
Andile Phehlukwayo Not Out 24
Willem Mulder b Akila Dananjaya 2
Extras 4b 3lb 1nb 0pen 13w 21
Total (50.0 overs) 363-7
Fall of Wickets : 1-42 de Kock, 2-101 Amla, 3-137 du Plessis, 4-215 Hendricks, 5-318 Duminy, 6-340 Miller, 7-363 Mulder
Did Not Bat : Rabada, Shamsi, Ngidi

Bowling:
Suranga Lakmal 9 -1-59- 0,(2w 1nb), Lahiru Kumara 10- 0 – 67 -2 (2w),
Akila Dananjay 10 – 0 – 81-1 (4w),Thisara Perera 10 – 0 – 75 -4, Prabath Jayasuriya 6 – 0 – 42 – 0, Dhananjaya de Silva 5 – 0 – 32 – 0.

SRI LANKA 1st innings
Upul Tharanga c Willem Mulder b Lungi Ngidi 19
Niroshan Dickwella c Faf du Plessis b Lungi Ngidi 10
Kusal Perera lbw Andile Phehlukwayo 27
Kusal Mendis c Willem Mulder b Lungi Ngidi 31
Thisara Perera c Quinton de Kock b Willem Mulder 16
Angelo Mathews lbw Tabraiz Shamsi 32
Dhananjaya de Silva c Quinton de Kock b Andile Phehlukwayo 84
Akila Dananjaya c Lungi Ngidi b Andile Phehlukwayo 37
Suranga Lakmal c&b Lungi Ngidi 12
Prabath Jayasuriya b Tabraiz Shamsi 0
Lahiru Kumara Not Out 7
Extras 0b 0lb 0nb 0pen 10w 10
Total (45.2 overs) 285 all out
Fall of Wickets : 1-20 Dickwella, 2-37 Tharanga, 3-63 Perera, 4-81 Perera, 5-124 Mendis, 6-155 Mathews, 7-250 Perera, 8-273 de Silva, 9-275 Jayasuriya, 10-285 Lakmal

Bowling: Kagiso Rabada 8 – 0 -34 -0 (1w),Lungi Ngidi 8.2 -0 – 57- 4 (2w), Andile Phehlukwayo 9 – 0 – 74 -3 (4w),
Willem Mulder 6 -0 – 34 -1 (1w), Tabraiz Shamsi 10 -0 – 62 – 2 (2w),JP Duminy 4 – 0 – 24 – 0 . 6.00