Dominant Sri Lanka make it 4-1
South Africa suffered a fifth successive sub-standard batting performance in Sri Lanka to concede the final match in the series - a dead rubber - to opposition who have shown their superiority
South Africa suffered a fifth successive sub-standard batting performance in Sri Lanka to concede the final match in the series - a dead rubber - to opposition who have shown their superiority
Scorer: S Balasubramanian | Commentator: Siddarth Ravindran
A dominant performance from Sri Lanka, sweeping aside South Africa today despite bringing in a host of understudies. Caps a terrific series for them, and leaves South Africa with plenty of homework to do.
Stats man extraordinnaire Mohandas Menon tweets: This 4-1 defeat is South Africa's worst ODI series performance since its 4-0 loss in England (Natwest Series) in August 2008.
Uwaisul Karnain: "The only favor done by the top order players of South Africa for their tailenders is that they have preserved their review."
indika chathuranga: "As a srilanakan fan who loves watching SA team playing since the childhood, i'm thoroughly dissapointed with their performance in this series. Hope they will put up a good fight in T20s against the worlds no1 T20 team. Best of luck.."
James: "South Africa have "plenty of homework to do"? Have they re-engaged Mickey Arthur?" A few more series like this, and Mickey will be back in charge of SA.
Presentation ceremony:
The Man of the Match is Tillakaratne Dilshan: "I think McLaren bowled that over really well. Little bit disappointed but these kind of things happen. I'm really enjoying, when I get a start I want to make a big one. Really good series for me, bowled well, batted well, fielded well."
Man of the Series is Kumar Sangakkara: "We had thir batting at 3, he and Dilshan gave us the platform, it was my job to push the scoring. I haven't changed my game a lot, I try to play situations well, I try to target bowlers, when you play in Sri Lanka you need totals above 260. My first series was a triangular against SA, they are the best side in Test cricket, they've always done well against us. I've enjoyed watching guys like AB and Hash."
AB de Villiers: "Looked like we played cricket out of our league, unfortunately couldn't get some momentum going. We'll keep learning. It's amazing when you start to lose all these negatives kick up and you start to overanalyse things. It was a great experience, played some quality spin and against a subcontinent team that really know their conditions very well."
Angelo Mathews: "Couldn't have asked for any better, I thought Dilshan and Thirimanne batted brilliantly, unfortunately Dilshan couldn't get to his century. We have got a good blend of seniors and juniors, pretty happy with the way they performed. On behalf of the national team, I'd like to thank the fans for their support."
Mathews holds aloft the series trophy, and his team-mates join in soon after. As Sri Lanka bask in the glow of victory, we'll bring our ball-by-ball coverage to a close. There's plenty more on the series coming up, including features and analysis from Andrew Fernando.
All you angry SA fans, it's not the end of the world. Thanks for all the mails, see you at during the T20 series.
LL Tsotsobe b Lakmal 1 (6m 7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 14.28
Priyal: "Oh! these two party spoilers are delaying Sri Lanka's celebrations! Must be annoying for Mathews and clan!"
Lakmal returns.
AB de Villiers had marked out the ODIs in Sri Lanka as the beginning of South Africa's approach to the 2015 World Cup, but South Africa's captain conceded, after the fifth ODI in Colombo, that the 4-1 thrashing may trigger changes in personnel
Lahiru Thirimanne's innings in the fifth ODI was not very different from some of the other innings he has played before, but his calculated approach to run-making left an impression
The opening combination, the spinner's spot, the pace bowing in less helpful conditions, the wicketkeeping, the captaincy … there was little that went right for South Africa in Sri Lanka
Plays of the Day from the fifth ODI between Sri Lanka and South Africa in Colombo
South Africa suffered a fifth successive sub-standard batting performance in Sri Lanka to concede the final match in the series - a dead rubber - to opposition who have shown their superiority