South Africa completed their second successive innings victory over Sri Lanka when they won the third and final Test by an innings and seven this afternoon.
South Africa won the series 2-0. Their victory by an innings and 229 runs in the second Test in Cape Town earlier this month was also achieved in three days.
Kumar Sangakkara, promoted to open the batting in place of out-of-form captain Sanath Jayasuriya, was Sri Lankas lone hero. He was last man out for 98 and was unlucky not to score his first Test century when he was given out lbw to Makhaya Ntini.
Sri Lanka, who had been forced to follow on 259 runs behind on the first innings, were bowled out for 252, adding just 68 runs for the loss of seven wickets today.
The slide started with the 11th ball of the day. when Aravinda de Silva was caught at third slip by South African captain Shaun Pollock when he edged an outswinger from Jacques Kallis.
Sri Lankas last hope disappeared when Romesh Kaluwitharana was caught behind off new cap Justin Kemp shortly before lunch. Kemp took further wickets as South Africa quickly wiped out the Sri Lankan tail.
The left-handed Sangakkara, 23, playing in his sixth Test, went past his previous highest score of 74, made in the first Test of the current series in Durban. He batted for 348 minutes and faced 215 balls, hitting 14 fours before playing across the line against Ntini in an attempt to hurry to his century before running out of partners. - AFP