SRILANKLA Becomes First Asian Team to WON a series in SOUTHAFRICA | SRI vs SA

Sri Lanka became the first Asian side in the world to beat South Africa in their home conditions. The Lankans completed a 2-0 sweep against the Proteas, bagging an 8-wicket win in the second Test at Port Elizabeth. Kusal Mendis and Oshada Fernando chased down the 197-run target with a brilliant 163-run partnership for the third wicket on Day 3. It also becomes the rare home defeat for South Africa who were not beaten on home soil on the past 8 occasions.
Before Sri Lanka, only Australia and England have managed to beat South Africa in a Test series at home. The Aussies have done so on 5 different occasions - 1997, 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2014 - while England did the same twice in 2004-05 and 2015-16.
The partnership between Fernando and Mendis of 163 runs for the third wicket also made its way in the record books as the third highest for the Islanders in the 4th innings.
Day 3 started with the tourists reeling on 60/2 and in need of 137 more runs to win the Test. Mendis was the first to complete his half-century, reaching the milestone in 52 balls whereas Oshada bagged his maiden Test fifty later.
Be it Dale Steyn, Keshav Maharaj or Kagiso Rabada, the Proteas bowlers did all they could to break the partnership but the Lankan pair were determined to hold on. Mendis did give an opportunity as the ball flew over Hashim Amla's head at first slip, after taking a piece of his bat but the veteran Proteas cricketer couldn't latch onto the ball.
South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis, meanwhile, expressed disappointment with the result while also conceding that it was the batting failure that led to the hosts' downfall in the second Test.
"Very disappointing, up there with the most disappointing [series loss] from my personal point of view. We didn't play our best credit, to beat us 2-0, they should've done something right. We were poor with the bat right through the series. Both teams underperformed with the bat on two pitches that were conducive to scoring runs," said Du Plessis.
Kusal Mendis was named as the Man of the Match for his 84-run knock in 197 deliveries. Kusal Perera, who single-handedly won Sri Lanka the first Test in Durban with his 153-not out, was given the Man of the Series award.

 Highlights(Score Card):

South Africa 222/10 (61.2)R/R: 3.61 (1st Innings) & 128/10 (44.3)R/R: 2.87 (2nd Innings)

Sri Lanka 154/10 (37.4)R/R: 4.08 (1st Innings) & 197/2 (45.4)R/R: 4.31 (2nd Innings)