Vaas shines as Sri Lanka scrape through

COLOMBO: Chaminda Vaas produced timely efforts with both bat and ball as Sri Lanka scored a three-wicket win over South Africa in the first One-Day International at the Premdasa Stadium on Friday.

Vaas took four wickets to restrict South Africa to 263-9 and then chipped in with a useful 18 runs as Sri Lanka made a successful chase under lights in a thrilling match, the first in a series of five.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (38 not out) saw the team through with one over to spare in the company of Kaushal Lokuarachchi, who sealed the win with a huge six over mid-wicket off Shaun Pollock.

Sri Lanka's difficult run-chase was made easier by captain Marvan Atapattu and left-handed opener Avishka Gunawardene who scored half-centuries.

Atapattu laid the foundation with a crucial 65 off 82 balls with five fours.

The skipper added 66 for the second wicket with Gunawardene (51), who hit seven fours before getting a leading-edge that gave Herschelle Gibbs an easy catch at point off Makhaya Ntini.

Atapattu too fell to Ntini as South Africa seemed to bounce back, but Dilshan took control of the situation, adding 33 crucial runs for the seventh wicket with Vaas.

"We should have got bigger individual scores but it was also important to have a specialist batsman in the middle in the end overs, and we had Dilshan, who played magnificently," Atapattu said.

"We failed to chase a similar total against India some days back during the Asia Cup and wanted to do so today. The toss is always crucial in a day-night game here but the results are not always the same," he added.

Earlier, Jacques Kallis (74) and Mark Boucher (58) helped South Africa post a competitive total after electing to bat.

Kallis batted well during his 48th half-century as he hit five fours and two sixes in an 85-ball knock, even as other top-order batsmen failed to come up with big contributions in the day-night game.

Boucher then took over, hitting five fours and a six in his 47-ball stand. He was out trying a lofted shot as Gunawardene took a well-judged catch at long-on off left-arm seamer Vaas.

Kallis was lucky to escape on 33 when wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara failed to latch on to a difficult chance off leg-spinner Lokuarachchi. He was later given out, caught and bowled by Chandana.

He added 77 for the second wicket with captain Graeme Smith (38), who was bowled by Lokuarachchi between bat and pad.

"I thought our score was good enough for a win. But we probably didn't do a good job when it came to controlling runs in the middle overs," said Smith.

South Africa lost quick wickets later in the innings, with Vaas pegging them back after they were cruising along at 241-5 in the 47th over.

Vaas removed Boucher, Lance Klusener and debutant Jean Paul-Duminy in quick succession to finish with 4-33.

He had earlier dismissed Gibbs, who was out for nought. The opener scored just four runs in two innings of the second Test here after missing the opening match because of a sprained ankle.

"I am very happy at the way I batted and bowled. It was good to get those runs and I always enjoy bowling on the sub-continent even though there is not much here for seamers," Vaas said.

Sri Lanka had won a preceding two-Test series 1-0.