Sri Lanka 2-239 (Tillakaratne Dilshan 115*, Kumar Sangakkara 91, Lonwabo Tsotsobe 1-48) beat South Africa 238 (Jean-Paul Duminy 97, Hashim Amla 77, Ajantha Mendis 4-51, Lasith Malinga 3-52) by eight wickets.

The experienced duo of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara toyed with the South African bowling as Sri Lanka clinched the fourth ODI and series.

The Proteas were bowled out for 238 runs in 48.4 overs and the Lankan Lions hammered 239 with eight wickets remaining and six overs to spare.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka) was declared ‘Player of the match’ for his match winning unbeaten knock of 115 off 130 deliveries. Earlier, he also chipped in with two valuable wickets while bowling.

The fourth One Day International of the five match series was held on Sunday, July 28, 2013, at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Earlier, AB de Villiers, the skipper of South Africa, won the toss and preferred to bat first. They lost the first wicket at 17 as Hashim Amla along with Jean-Paul Duminy took charge of the situation. Amla hit 3 fours in the fifth over whereas Duminy hit 3 in the coming two overs and they kept the score board running with regular boundaries. Hashim Amla attained his 21^st ODI fifty in the 14^th over with a couple of fours and the hundred runs mark was crossed in the 18^th one. The 101 runs partnership came to an end when Hashim Amla was declared leg before wicket off Tillakaratne Dilshan for 77 from just 71 balls with 9 fours.

AB de Villiers scored just four runs and was replaced by Faf du Plessis and the run rate slowed down a bit. The latter was dropped at 12 by Angelo Mathews off his own bowling and Jean-Paul Duminy reached his 16^th ODI half century in the 33^rd over. They took the score to 172 in 36.5 overs when Plessis was smartly stumped by Kumar Sangakkara off Rangana Herath for 23. The Islander bowlers ripped through the middle and lower order batting of the tourists whereas Duminy kept on securing his end. He was unluckily clean bowled by Ajantha Mendis for 97 off 121 deliveries with 2 lofty sixes and 7 fours as the Proteas managed 238 runs with eight balls still available.

Ajantha Mendis was the highest wicket taker with four, Lasith Malinga got three, Tillakaratne Dilshan held two and Rangana Herath claimed one wicket.

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene got off to a rising start by scoring 45 runs in 9.3 overs as the latter was caught by Amla at gully off Lonwabo Tsotsobe for 12. Kumar Sangakkara appeared in the park next and Dilshan brought up his fifty in the 27^th over with a four. The batsmen did not take any risk and sent the loose ball out of the rope consistently. Sangakkara attained his 78^th ODI fifty in the 32^nd over and added another 11 runs with 2 fours in the 36^th one.

The pair accumulated 42 runs in the following four overs with 1 six and 7 fours while Tillakaratne Dilshan powered his 17^th ODI century in the 40^th over. Kumar Sangakkara was caught by Rory Klienveldt off Morne Morkel for 91 from 101 with 2 big sixes and 8 fours as the total touched 229 after 41.4 overs. Dilshan secured his end for 115 off 130 balls with 16 fours as the Lankan Lions hammered 2-239 in 44 overs.

Sri Lanka triumphed in the 4^th ODI with a hefty margin of eight wickets and leads the five match series 3-1. The fifth and final ODI will be played at the same venue on July 31^st, 2013.