First ODI: South Africa trounce Sri Lanka by 8 wickets

Port Elizabeth : Sri Lanka’s woes continued in South Africa in limited overs. First the visitors lost the Test series and now 0-1 down in the ODI series. Wayne Parnell and Imran Tahir were unplayable and claimed three wickets each to set up a comfortable eight-wicket win in the first one-day international at St George’s Park.

Sri Lanka struggled to 181 all out, with Kusal Mendis the only batsman to shine for the tourists, making 62.

Left-arm seamer Parnell took three for 48 while leg-spinner Tahir showed superb control in a strong westerly wind, taking three for 26.

Hashim Amla made 57 and Faf du Plessis 55 not out as South Africa cruised to victory with 15.4 overs to spare.

Parnell plunged Sri Lanka into early trouble by taking wickets with the first balls of the second and fourth overs after South African captain AB de Villiers won the toss and decided to bowl.

Although Dinesh Chandimal and Mendis put on 72 for the third wicket, Tahir ripped the heart out of the middle order, taking three wickets in four overs.