Sri Lanka’s top order was once again unconvincing against South Africa’s quick bowlers on another bouncy pitch, slipping to 48 for three and then 84 for four after electing to bat first.

But the visitors were saved further humiliation with the bat on a disappointing low-scoring tour after good contributions from vice-captain Atapattu and wicket-keeper batsman Sangakkara.

Atapattu continued his purple form from Benoni and Kimberly, scoring a rapid 53 from 63 balls, hitting eight elegant boundaries.

Sangakkara, under pressure to perform after four consecutive failures, batted adhesively after a tentative start, occupying the crease for three hours for his unbeaten 77 from 114 balls.

Sangakkara added 61 for the fifth wicket with Russel Arnold and then 57 with off-spinning all-rounder Thilan Samaraweera, who was playing his first game of the series, coming in ahead of left-hander Hashan Tillakaratne.

Sanath Jayasuriya (2) had started the afternoon disastrously for the Sri Lankans when he was dismissed in the second over, bowled by Alan Donald as he cut a short delivery straight into the hands of Jonty Rhodes at backward point.

Shaun Pollock then accounted for Aravinda de Silva (0), shuffled up the order into the number three position, with a perfectly pitched leg-cutter which the veteran right-hander edged behind.

Atapattu fought back with a flurry of boundaries against a wayward Donald, adding 41 for the third wicket with Mahela Jaywardene, who contributed just three to the partnership.

But Pollock completed a fine new ball spell (7-4-10-2) by dismissing Jaywardene, who was caught at the wicket in similar fashion to De Silva, to leave the Sri Lankans struggling on 48 for three.

Atapattu carried on freely, bringing up his 43rd one-day fifty with an elegant cover drive for four, his eighth boundary, adding a further 36 runs with out-of-form Kumar Sangakkara.

However, Monde Zondeki, a 20-year-old Xhosa fast bowler, who came into the side in place of Makhaya Ntini, then breakthrough with his first delivery in international cricket.

Atapattu was surprised by some extra bounce, edging behind where Boucher parried a catch to Andrew Hall at slip.

Zondeki went on to concede 30 runs from six overs, bowling at a lively pace and confirming his potential.

Fortunately for Sri Lanka, Sangakkara was starting to find his form after struggling early on when he was frequently between outside the off-stump, compiling a useful stand with Arnold.

A combination of shrewd field placement and a bowling change broke that partnership as the left-handed Arnold edged a short delivery to Pollock standing at a wide slip.

Samaraweera and Sangakkara consolidated, refusing to take undue risks in a partnership that yielded 67 runs before Samaraweera was run out in the 46th over by Herschelle Gibbs in the covers.

Samaraweera, in contention for a place in Sri Lanka’s 16-man squad for Australia to be announced on Monday, had scored a mature 33 from 44 balls, hitting four fours.

Chaminda Vaas then hoisted a catch to Gibbs whilst trying to score quick runs and Prabath Nissanka was sloppily run out after failing to run in his bat – the second Sri Lankan to suffer such a fate in the series.

Sangakkara finished the innings with a flourish, smashing Donald for six over third man and a four over mid-wicket in an expensive last over.

Pollock was the pick of the bowlers, taking two early wickets and conceding just 23 runs for his allotted 10 overs, including four maidens.

His opening partner Donald, forced to bowl with the new ball in the absence of Makhaya Ntini, was expensive in comparison with 65 runs coming from nine overs.