Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2nd T20I, Hambantota - Miller and Duminy lead SA to 145

South Africa 145/6 (20/20 ov)

Sri Lanka 123/7 (20.0/20 ov)

South Africa won by 22 runs

South Africa's top and middle order were marginally improved as they posted a challenging score in a bid to win the Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka. Though with Sri Lanka's attack pegging them back all too frequently, none of their batsmen managed a half-century.

Operating in fierce winds, the bowlers stuck to their disciplines and kept South Africa in check even though their spinners did not tie the opposition up as much as they have in other matches. On a surface that is not as slow and low as Colombo's, there was more opportunity for the seamers to make an impression and Sri Lanka's returning one, Nuwan Kulasekara, did.

He found inswing from the get-go and bowled Henry Davids with the first ball of his second over when the opener could not counter the movement. South Africa's opening stand failed again but Quinton de Kock showed a change in approach that could bode well for the future. His footwork was significantly better used and he made an obvious decision to move forward, especially to the spinners.

He hit three boundaries with that strategy but then came out too far and was stumped of Sachithra Senanayake. That wicket brought a wobble when Faf du Plessis was yorked by Lasith Malinga to further extend the South Africa captain's lean run.

JP Duminy, who found form in the last match, and AB de Villiers posted the highest partnership of the innings. Duminy read Ajantha Mednis better than the South African batsmen have done so far but de VIlliers was a little slower to settle. Just as he did - with a pull off Angelo Mathews for four - he was run-out after chancing Kusal Perera's arm.

Duminy was caught at extra cover trying to accelerate so it was up to David Miller to do the finishing. He hit Mathews and Mendis down the ground but miscued an attempt to do the same to Kulasekara and Dinesh Chandimal took a well-judged catch running from cover.

South Africa put on 43 runs in the last five overs and would have wanted a few more but will bank on their bowlers to repeat their defending skills from Friday.