After a middle innings wobble – on 90 for three after the loss of Sanath Jayasuriya, Hashan Tillakaratne and Mahela Jayawardene – Sri Lanka recovered to post a competitive 268 for nine in their 50 overs.

Atapattu batted magnificently – his powerful and crisp driving through the cover region a feature of his innings – for his ninth one-day hundred, stroking 18 boundaries in his 124 from 129 balls

The 32-year-old right-hander, Sri Lanka’s captain in waiting, proved his cool temperament in a match that Sri Lanka had to perform if they were to progress to the second round of the tournament.

The big match temperament of Aravinda de Silva was also in evidence as the vastly experienced middle order batsman scored a perfectly paced 73 from 78 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes.

The pair consolidated first after the loss of the third wicket but gradually accelerated and then cut loose in the final slog overs with de Silva smiting two huge leg-side sixes.

Such was the quality of Atapattu’s innings that he received a standing ovation from a naturally patriotic South Africa crowd when he finally walked off the field having lofted a catch to long on.

De Silva’s silky innings, an innings that contained flashes of the right-hander in his regal pomp, was ended when, next over, Graeme Smith dived forward at mid-wicket and clasped a brilliant catch.

South Africa then finished strongly, taking the wickets of Kumar Sangakkara (6) and Russel Arnold (8), Muttiah Muralitharan (4) and Chaminda Vaas (3) in quick succession and preventing the final onslaught that would have taken the match beyond their grasp.

Kallis was South Africa’s best bowler, finishing with three for 41 from his ten over quota. Pollock and Makhaya Ntini also bowled impressively but the support bowling lacked variation and proved expensive.

Sri Lanka, needing to win to confirm their place in the Super Sixes, but also able to qualify should they lose by a narrow margin, lost the wickets of Sanath Jayasuriya, Hashan Tillakaratne and Mahela Jayawardene in the first half of their innings.

Mid-way through their innings after winning the toss and batting first Sri Lanka were 106 for three with Atapattu unbeaten on 60 from 77 balls with nine fours, his 46th one-day fifty.

South Africa, who, assuming West Indies beat Kenya, will be eliminated from the competition if they lose tonight, will now be confident of restricting Jayasuriya’s side to a reasonable total having made inroads into Sri Lanka’s fragile middle order.

Sri Lanka had started nervously as Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini extracted some early movement and bounce from the Kingsmead pitch with the new ball, hitting Sanath Jayasuriya once on the helmet.

Atapattu looked more at ease than his partner and gave the innings some momentum by lacing two magnificent cover drives to the boundary in Pollock’s second over of the innings.

Jayasuriya, the key danger man from South Africa’s perspective, was the first go and the latest top order Sri Lankan to sacrifice his wicket with poor running between the wickets.

Jayasuriya clipped the ball to mid on and set off for a quick single. A mid-wicket hesitation ensued before the left-hander tried to scurry back to his crease. However, Gary Kirsten, who had already missed the stumps on two previous occasions, hit the stumps directly and television umpire Peter Willey ruled Jayasuriya out.

Monde Zondeki, earlier preferred to the vastly experienced but struggling Alan Donald, was severely punished during a short first over, leaking 12 runs as Atapattu cut over the top of the infield.

However, whilst Zondeki proved expensive, Jacques Kallis enjoyed his chance to resume competition with the Sri Lankans, a side that has traditionally drawn out the best from the world’s leading all-rounder.

Kallis found the edge of Hashan Tillakaratne’s bat as the left-hander tried to guide a good-length delivery down to third man. A few moments later he came within a whisker of dismissing the out-of-touch Jayawardene.

But Jayawardene did not last long, lasting just 11 balls before being caught at the wicket off the bowling of Andrew Hall as he charged wildly down the wicket and tried to blast his way out of form.

Jayasuriya’s tossing record has been exemplary so far in the tournament with six wins in six games and today’s correct call provides the Sri Lankans with an early advantage.

During the previous two games in the tournament at Kingsmead, both day-night affairs, the conditions have favoured the side bowling last.

Sri Lanka named an unchanged side, sticking with the same eleven that pulled off a thrilling six run victory against the West Indies on Friday.

South Africa recalled Lance Klusener and packed their side with five fast bowlers.

The tournament hosts face elimination from the tournament if they lose.

Sri Lanka will top Pool B if they win tonight but could still return home early should they be defeated depending upon their net run rate.

If South Africa win then four teams will be level on 16 points – South Africa, Kenya, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Kenya and South Africa will qualify by virtue of having more wins against the tied reams whilst New Zealand and Sri Lanka will be separated by net run rate.

Sri Lanka team:

MS Atapattu, *ST Jayasuriya, HP Tillakaratne, PA de Silva, DPMD Jayawardene, RP Arnold, +KC Sangakkara, WPUJC Vaas, M Muralitharan, CRD Fernando, PW Gunaratne.

South Africa team:

GC Smith, HH Gibbs, G Kirsten, JH Kallis, HH Dippenaar,+MV Boucher, *SM Pollock, AJ Hall, M Ntini, M Zondeki, L Klusener.