Grinding hundreds like Hashim Amla’s in the first ODI and glorious ones like AB de Villiers’ in Hambantota. Quickfire starts like Tillakaratne Dilshan’s fifty off 40 balls in Pallekele and Sri Lanka’s 99 off the first ten overs in the finale. Dramatic collapses – Sri Lanka recorded 5 for 13 in Colombo and 5 for 11 in the second ODI, South Africa contributed 5 for 26 in the same game – this series seemed to have it all. Except a run-out. So it was only fitting that when one came, it proved decisive in a contest which saw South Africa make history by winning a first-ever fifty-over rubber in Sri Lanka.
