Athapaththu's allround show in vain as SA sweep T20I series

Dane van Niekerk top scored in South Africa's 163. © Getty

Chamari Athapaththu's all-round contribution wasn't enough to win Sri Lanka a consolation game as South Africa swept the three-match T20I series with a comprehensive 39-run victory in Centurion. Chasing 164 for victory, the visitors failed to get partnerships going with Nadine de Klerk (3 for 27) doing the bulk of damage in the middle overs.

Put in to bat first, the hosts posted a mammoth 163 on the board with contributions coming from all over. Tazmin Brits led the way, chipping in 36 off the 58 runs she posted for the opening stand with skipper Dane van Niekerk before departing in the eighth over. Van Niekerk retired hurt with a stomach bug when on 35, returned to bat later in the innings but couldn't add much to her score. Nonetheless, she top-scored with 38 off 29 deliveries that consisted three boundaries and a six, before being dismissed by her counterpart Athapaththu. Lara Goodall (35 off 30 balls) and Sune Luus (26 off 15 balls) were the chief contributors down the order, helping South Africa post the highest total of the series.

Marizanne Kapp got South Africa a breakthrough with just the second ball of the over, dismissing Prasadani Weerakkody for a duck. Athapaththhu led Sri Lanka's fight from one end and made 43 off the the team's 72 runs before she was bowled with Shabnim Ismail on the first ball of the 13th over. Barring Shashikala Sirwardene, who hit five boundaries in her 21-ball 29, no batter offered any resistance. The visitors kept losing wickets at regular intervals and eventually could only manage 124 for 7 in reply to South Africa's massive total.

Brief scores: South Africa 163/5 in 20 overs (Dane van Niekerk 38, Tazmin Brits 36, Lara Goodall 35; Chamari Athapaththu 1-25) beat Sri Lanka 124/7 in 20 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 43, Shashikala Siriwardene 29; Nadine de Klerk 3-27, Shabnim Ismail 2-11) by 39 runs.