For the second match in the series at Centurion Park, whilst Sri Lanka named the same side as narrowly lost in Durban, South Africa rang the changes. Aiden Markram, Chris Morris, Dwaine Pretorius, Sinethemba Queshile and Tabraiz Shamsi came in, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada and Imran Tahir sat this match out.
Sri Lanka won the toss and, opting to bowl first, enjoyed early success when Markram was caught by Lasith Malinga off Isuru Udana in the second over.
However, Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen took control of proceedings, putting on 116 for the second wicket, with both men hitting half-centuries. Hendricks was the first of the two to all, caught by Kamindu Mendis off Malinga for 65, having hit 9 fours. Two overs later, he was followed back to the pavilion by Akila Dhananjaya, having scored 64, featuring 3 sixes and 4 fours.
JP Duminy and David Miller then added an unbeaten 42 for the fourth wicket, as South Africa closed their innings on 180 – 3. Duminy was unbeaten on 33, including 2 sixes, whilst Miller was 9 not out.
In reply, Sri Lanka struggled from the start, losing Avsihka Fernando off the third ball, caught by Shamsi, off the bowling of Dale Steyn. Three balls later Steyn struck again, bowling Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella and Thisara Perera added 26, but then two wickets fell in successive balls, Dickwella caught by Sipalma off the bowling of Morris, with Kamindu Mendis caught behind off the next ball.
Perera and his namesake Angelo put on 25, but both then fell one after the other, Thisara caught behind off Pretorius for 22, and Perera caught by Duminy with Shamsi this time the bowler.
Dhananjaya de Silva and Isuru Udana added 21, but then Duminy ran out de Silva for 10, as the visitors’ innings subsided further. However, not for the first time in their limited overs matches together, Udana played a superb lone hand. First he added 320 with his captain Malinga, and then, when the fast bowler was bowled by Morris for 8, shared an unbeaten 15 for the last wicket with Jaffrey Vandersay. It was not enough – Sri Lanka fell someway short of their target. But without his 84 not out, struck of 48 balls, and featuring 6 sixes and 8 fours, the scoreboard would have looked a lot less close.
Rassie van der Dussen was named man of the match.