South Africa succumbed to Sri Lanka as the hosts levelled the three-match series with an 87-run win in the second limited-overs international in Pallekele on Wednesday.

Earlier, opener Tillakaratne Dilshan stroked a brisk 86 before Sri Lanka was bowled out for 267 in 49.2 overs.

 

Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene (48) appeared to be batting well enough to keep the three-game series alive after Sri Lanka lost the opening match at Colombo by 75 runs, until a late flurry of wickets put South Africa back in contention.

 

Dilshan was closing in on a sixth century in 11 games at the venue but was bowled behind the legs by offspinner JP Duminy.

 

Legspinner Imran Tahir removed batsmen Jayawardene and Lahiru Thirimanne (36), while seam bowler Ryan McLaren triggered a mini collapse down the order to stem the flow of late runs with a haul of 4-48.

 

Dilshan, who survived a sharp chance on 22 when he hit a return catch to Dale Steyn, struck nine fours during his 37th ODI half-century and was associated in a useful 61-ran stand for the third wicket with Thirimanne.

 

Tahir had Thirimanne caught a deep square leg and also accounted for a well-set Jayawardene, bowling the experienced batsman with a pitched up googly.

 

McLaren dismissed captain Angelo Mathews (34), Priyanjan (25) and Nuwan Kulasekara (0) in the same over, the 47th of the innings, and also removed Ajantha Mendis (2) in the 49th.

 

Earlier in the innings, opener Kusal Perera and left-hander Kumar Sangakkara were dismissed for seven runs each.

 

Perera was caught at mid-wicket playing a casual shot to new-ball bowler Vernon Philander, while Sangakkara was caught behind attempting a hook off pace bowler Morne Morkel.

 

SRI LANKA: MDKJ Perera, TM Dilshan, KC Sangakkara†, DPMD Jayawardene, SMA Priyanjan, AD Mathews*, HDRL Thirimanne, KMDN Kulasekara, SMSM Senanayake, BAW Mendis, SL Malinga

 

SOUTH AFRICA: HM Amla, Q de Kock†, JH Kallis, AB de Villiers*, JP Duminy, DA Miller, R McLaren, VD Philander, DW Steyn, M Morkel, Imran Tahir