It was South Africa against Kumar Sangakkara again, this time in Hambantota, and the visiting bowling unit managed to overcome and guarantee their side a trophy. In vicious winds, South Africa's attack held their nerve to defend a challenging total and ensure the series was won with a game to play.
Sangakkara was the only batsman to mount a challenge and lacked the support South Africa's line-up gave each other, albeit somewhat scrappy.
Their top-order showed slight improvements and two partnerships in the 30s helped them post a sizable target. As was the case in the first match, the bowlers, led by Lonwabo Tsotsobe upfront, struck regularly to ensure Sri Lanka were always at arm's length from the total.
Sri Lanka stumbled from the get-go when Mahela Jayawardene, who was brought back into the XI in place of the rested Tillakaratne Dilshan, lasted five balls. Tsotsobe got a short ball to angle across him and Jayawardene edged to Quinton de Kock. Kusal Perera took three boundaries off Morne Morkel to threaten his first score of substance in the series but lost another partner early on. Dinesh Chandimal chased a wide one from Tsotsobe and was also caught behind.
Sri Lanka stumbled from the get-go when Mahela Jayawardene, who was brought back into the XI in place of the rested Tillakaratne Dilshan, lasted five balls. Tsotsobe got a short ball to angle across him and Jayawardene edged to Quinton de Kock. Kusal Perera took three boundaries off Morne Morkel to threaten his first score of substance in the series but lost another partner early on. Dinesh Chandimal chased a wide one from Tsotsobe and was also caught behind.
Then, Sri Lankan hearts were set aflutter when Perera and Kumar Sangakkara could have been dismissed three times in the space of six balls. Perera pulled Tsotsobe in the direction of two fielders but found space, while Sangakkara outside edged Parnell past a vacant slip area and then inside-edged inches away from his stumps.
The pair managed six runs off the next 15 deliveries before Perera was trapped in front trying to reverse sweep an Imran Tahir googly. Replays showed it had pitched just outside leg but with no DRS reviews in the shortest format, Perera had to go. He did, shaking his head all the way.
Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne rebuilt but picked the wrong bowler to take on when Wayne Parnell was brought back. Thirimanne tried to heave him over midwicket and was bowled off a full delivery. Angelo Mathews holed out but Sri Lanka's challenge ended when Sangakkara was caught by David Wiese at extra cover.
Wiese was playing only his second match for South Africa and has not done too much of note yet but he back-pedaled to take the catch over his head and ensure Sri Lanka had too much to do. They needed 56 runs off the last five overs and, as South Africa's batting showed, that was always going to be unlikely.
South Africa's opening stand failed again when Henry Davids was bowled by a Nuwan Kulasekara inswinger. De Kock showed improvement with a more aggressive approach and used his feet better to come down the track, especially against the spinners. He took it too far though and was stumped off Sachithra Senanayake's bowling.
AB de Villiers and JP Duminy put on 38 for the fourth wicket, which proved the difference between the two sides. De Villiers looked well set when he was run-out but had helped lay a small foundation for David Miller to capitalise on.
Although South Africa's finishing was not explosive, Miller managed two big sixes in his favourite area down the ground. He eventually fell on his sword but the 36 runs he put on was enough to earn him the Man-of-the-Match award.
South Africa's record against Sri Lanka in T20s on the island is vastly different to the ODI form. While they have only won two fifty-over matches, South Africa have triumphed in all three T20s played against Sri Lanka in their homeland.
20 overs South Africa 145 for 6 (Miller 36, Senanayake 2-18) v Sri Lanka
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.
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