It was not exactly 624 but Kumar Sangakkara's career-best had a similar effect as the 2006 record stand he put on with Mahela Jawaywardene against the same opposition seven years ago. Sangakkara's 169 was his 16th ODI century, the highest score by a Sri Lankan batsman at home, which sent him past Ian Bell as the second highest run-scorer in ODIs this year and took his 2013 average to 75.55. It was also the difference between the two sides at the Premadasa Stadium.
Sangakkara dominated the South African attack with unusual aggression. He built his innings to a crescendo, scoring 66 runs off the first 91 balls and 103 from the next 46 and bulleted the leg side with boundaries. Almost 78% of his runs - 131 - came on the on side.
He made all South African bowlers - from their seamers who persisted with the short ball to their sitting duck trio of spinners - appear ineffectual and set their batsmen a target that would require them to complete the highest successful chase at the ground. That set Sri Lanka up to subject South Africa to their second-biggest loss and begin Russell Domingo's tenure on a difficult note.
South Africa went into the fixture understaffed, with Lonwabo Tsotsobe unfit for selection and Hashim Amla missing out because of an overnight neck problem. But they also seemed underprepared despite a week of training on the island.
Morne Morkel and Chris Morris bowled 19 deliveries between them in the first two overs because of the seven wides they sent down. To add insult to that ill-discipline, Morkel had Upul Tharanga dropped on nought by Alviro Petersen in the first over after the quick changed angles to round the wicket as he tried to find his line.
Morris discovered his soon after and bowled Tillakaratne Dilshan for 10 but Tharanga was there to remind South Africa what an error can cost. He took advantage of any width and put on 70 with Sangakkara before inside edging onto his stumps off Morkel.
Sangakkara and Jayawardene evoked even more memories of 2006 in their stint at the crease together. In their 74-run stand, Jayawardene dispatched the short ball at will while Sangakkara dealt with the spinners. Jayawardene succumbed to the pull but left Sangakkara to inflict the bulk of the damage.
Sangakkara imposed his authority in the latter third of the innings. Lahiru Thirimanne scored just 17 runs in a 123-run stand with Sangakkara, who hit audacious shots like the scoop and had some fortune with his edges. Already on a magical run this year, Sangakkara took that to new heights against an attack that ran out of ideas.
Thisara Perera's cameo at the end allowed Sri Lanka to take 103 runs off the last 10 overs and saw Sri Lanka post a total South Africa were never in with a chance of chasing.
Colin Ingram, opening in place of Amla, was out for a golden duck as his defences were absent against a perfect, inswinging Lasith Malinga yorker. Duminy, who was in a new role at No. 3 and playing his 100th ODI, dealt with Malinga better and hit him for two fours in the fifth over. Just as he looked good, he outside edged off Shaminda Eranga and Sangakkara reacted outstandingly to take a one-handed catch, low down.
Petersen showed why he should be considered in the openers' role more permanently with a watchful knock. Along with AB de Villiers, who was dropped by Eranga off his own bowling on 4, he made a South African challenge seem possible. De Villiers drove well and looked comfortable until Rangana Herath was brought on.
Sri Lanka's go-to man produced a delivery that angled into de VIlliers and bowled him as he played inside the line. Petersen, who was joint top-scorer on 29, was caught behind in the next over and at 75 for 4, it was only a matter of time.
South Africa's last six wickets fell for 58 runs as the middle order lacked temperament and application. That only served to worsen their record: South Africa have not won an ODI against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka since 1993 and have won only one of the 11 completed matches against the hosts they have played there. They will question their flawed strategy, especially in the spin department as they played two left-arm spinners against a top five with three left-handed batsmen and two sublime players of spin, who made them pay today.
Sri Lanka 320 for 5 (Sangakkara 169, Morkel 2-34) v South Africa
It was not exactly 624 but Kumar Sangakkara's century would have brought back memories of his 2006 record-stand with Mahela Jayawardene for South Africa's bowlers. Sri Lanka's talisman magical year continued as he notched up the highest score by a Sri Lankan batsman at home, his own highest score, went past Ian Bell as the second highest run-scorer in ODIs this year and took his 2013 average to 75.55.
The result was a score that would require South Africa to achieve the highest successful chase at the Premadasa Stadium if they are to win and they have their attack to blame for that challenge. They lacked ideas and were overwhelmed by both their opposition and their own strategies and that's even before considering the ill-discipline.
Sangakkara was typically classy and unusually aggressive against seamers who were over-reliant on the short ball even though the batsmen showed no weakness against it and an ineffective spin trio. Two left-arm spinners against a top five with three left-handed batsmen and two other sublime players of spin was quickly exposed as flawed.
Having not played since their Champions Trophy semi-final exit a month ago and with changes running through their ranks, South Africa also appeared uncertain in their new skins. Without Dale Steyn, who is not the squad as he recovers from injury, and Lonwabo Tsotsobe, whose ankle impingement has recurred, the attack lacked a senior statesman and it showed.
Morne Morkel, now fully recovered from the quad problem which ruled him out of the Champions Trophy, had a wayward start from over the wicket to Upul Tharanga. He gave away the first three runs with wides. When he changed angles, to round the wicket, he immediately induced an edge but Alviro Petersen, at second slip, put it down. Tharanga had not scored a run at that stage.
Chris Morris took the other new ball and bowled four wides in his first over. In their first two overs, South Africa bowled 19 deliveries as a result of the problems the seamers had in finding their line.
Both adjusted a little and Morris was the first to be rewarded when he angled one in to Tillakaratne Dilshan and bowled him. Tharanga was still there though, and made South Africa pay for their mistakes as they continued to tempt him with width.
By the time he edged again, he had 43 runs. At least, Morkel did not need a catcher. Tharanga played on to end a 70-run stand with Sangakkara and had laid a decent foundation for the middle order to build on.
South Africa's spinners posed no threat to Sangakkara and Jayawardene and de Villiers ensured he kept a seamer on at one end. But even that had no effect as neither batsmen shuddered against the short ball. Jayawardene was strong on the pull while Sangakkara attacked the spinners.
It was only when Aaron Phangiso and Robin Peterson operated in tandem that the boundaries slowed. There were none for three overs and Peterson reviewed an lbw appeal against Jayawardene. The ball-tracking predicted it would miss leg stump.
Jayawardene was on 29 and added 13 more before misjudging a pull. He picked out Colin Ingram at deep midwicket to end his innings. South Africa could have Lahiru Thirimanne in the next over when he skied a slog sweep but the three converging fielders could not decide who would attempt the catch.
While Thirimanne bided time, Sangakkara cashed in. His century came up off 103 balls with a pull past long leg, underlining his authority on the leg side. He scored 131 runs in that half of the field and took boundaries off the quicks and enjoyed dispatching the offspinner, JP Duminy who was playing in his 100th ODI, at will.
As the innings reached its end, Sangakkara even took risks. He got away with edges, being bowled off a no-ball because of the incorrect number of fielders in the circle, he tried the scoop shot and succeeded and finally, holed out to long-on.
Because of Sangakkara's dominance and Thisara Perera's cameo at the end, Sri Lanka put on 103 runs in the last 10 overs to achieve their highest score against South Africa. Unless one of South Africa's batsmen can come up with an innings of that quality, the hosts will extend their run at home against South Africa to 11 wins and only one defeat, back in 1993.
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