Colombo: Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene stroked a superb 123 to help his team to a dramatic one-wicket victory over South Africa on the final day of the second Test on Tuesday, giving the hosts a 2-0 series win.
Sri Lanka, resuming the day on 262 for five and needing 90 for the win, added 71 in the morning for the loss of just one wicket to leave them just 19 runs shy of victory at lunch.
But left-arm spinner Nicky Boje tempted Jayawardene into a lofted extra-cover drive with Sri Lanka needing just 11 runs and Herschelle Gibbs snapped up a sharp chance at slip to trigger one final dramatic twist to a remarkable Test match.
Chaminda Vaas (four) was then brilliantly caught by a diving AB de Villiers at third slip and Muttiah Muralitharan (two) was bowled by Andrew Hall as he tried to slog the winning runs, leaving Sri Lanka still needing two runs.
However, Farveez Maharoof (29 not out), who batted for 120 deliveries, held his nerve with a drive down the ground to tie the scores and last-man Lasith Malinga drove Boje through mid-on to clinch victory.
Jayawardene's sublime innings, which spanned 245 deliveries and included 11 boundaries and two sixes, provided the foundation for the victory.
His 16th Test century carried him to an aggregate of 510 runs in the series, the fifth highest in a two-match series.
Record chase:
Sri Lanka's 352-run chase was the highest on home soil. It was also Sri Lanka's highest successful chase and the sixth highest in Test cricket history.
All rounder Andrew Hall gave South Africa early hope with a reverse-swinging delivery that trapped wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene lbw for 30, ending a 78-run sixth-wicket stand.
The touring side then missed Maharoof, on two, twice in an over as Mark Boucher fumbled a stumping opportunity and Hashim Amla spilled a chance.
South Africa were handicapped by a hamstring injury to pace bowler Makhaya Ntini who failed to respond to intensive overnight treatment.
Ntini, South Africa's premier pace bowler, was woken up every two hours during the night by team physiotherapist Shane Jabaar for ice treatment.
South Africa now hope he will regain fitness in time for the second stage of a tri-series also involving India starting on August 14. Sri Lanka won the first game of the two-match series by an innings and 153 runs.
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