JOHANNESBURG: The Proteas seam attack went through Sri Lankan batting order on the third day of third and final test to outclassed visitors by an innings and 118 runs to complete a 3-0 series sweep.
Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell and Duane Olivier combined to take 16 wickets on day three as visitors second innings were bundled out at paltry 177 runs after home team dismissed their opposition for meagre 133 runs in their first innings before skipper Faf du Plessis had no hesitation in enforcing the follow-on.
Having started the day on 80 for loss of four wickets in their first dig, Sri Lanka lost their next six wickets in the opening session adding just 51 runs into their overnight score.
Proteas bowlers ripped through the Sri Lankan order to dismiss them for 131 in 45.4 overs in their first innings. After getting healthy, 295-run lead, skipper Faf du Plessis decided to enforce follow-on.
Sri Lanka were looking to be more positive in their second innings, but the all-seam South African attack blew them away once more. Only opener Dimuth Karunaratne (50) had offered any resistance in the second innings.
While Rabada and Philander picked up two wickets each on Friday, Saturday's opening session saw the success shared between the four quickies.
BRIEF SCORES
SOUTH AFRICA 426 (Duminy 155, Amla 134, Pradeep 4/78, Kumara 4/107) beat SRI LANKA 131 (Mendis 41, Philander 3/28, Rabada 3/44, Olivier 2/19, Parnell 2/38) and 177 (Karunaratne 50, Olivier 3/38, Parnell 4/51, Rabada 2/50, Philander 1/35) by an innings and 118 runs.
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