Debutant spinner Maheesh Theekshana claimed four wickets as Sri Lanka hammered South Africa by 78 runs in the third one-day international to clinch the series 2-1 on Tuesday.

The hosts bowled out South Africa for 125 in 30 overs while chasing a target of 204 in Colombo. Theekshana, who picked up a wicket on his first ball in international cricket, returned figures of 4-37.

Earlier Sri Lanka posted 203-9 in their 50 overs after they elected to bat first with Charith Asalanka scoring 47. 

The two sides will now play three Twenty20 internationals starting Friday at the same venue.

Sri Lanka v South Africa 3rd ODI scoreboard

Final scoreboard of the third and final one-day international between Sri Lanka and South Africa in Colombo on Tuesday:

Sri Lanka

A. Fernando lbw b Maharaj              10

D. Chandimal lbw b George Linde         9

K. Mendis c and b George Linde         16

D. de Silva c Klaasen b Markram        31

C. Asalanka c Klaasen b Shamsi         47

D. Shanaka c Mulder b Maharaj          13

W. Hasaranga c R Hendricks b Maharaj    6

C. Karunaratne lbw b Shamsi            16

D. Chameera c Malan b Mulder           29

M. Theekshana not out                  10

P. Jayawickrama not out                 2

Extras (lb2, w8, nb4)                  14

Total (9 wickets, 50 overs)           203

Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Fernando), 2-33 (Chandimal), 3-64 (Mendis), 4-93 (De Silva), 5-112 (Shanaka), 6-121 (Hasaranga), 7-154 (Karunaratne), 8-166 (Asalanka), 9-198 (Chameera)

Bowling: Rabada 8-0-46-0 (nb3, w6), Maharaja 10-0-38-3, Linde 10-1-32-2 (nb1), Markram 10-1-41-1, Shamsi 10-0-31-2 (w1), Phehlukwayo 1-0-10-0 Mulder 1-0-3-1 (w1)

South Africa (target 204)

J. Malan c de Silva b Theekshana       18

A. Markram c de Silva b Jayawickrama    2

R. Hendricks b Chameera                 1

R. van der Dussen c Mendis b Chameera   5

H. Klaasen lbw b Theekshana            22

W. Mulder b Hasaranga                   2

A. Phehlukwayo c Chandimal b Asalanka  17

G. Linde c Mendis b Hasaranga          18

K. Rabada c de Silva b Theekshana       8

K. Maharaj c Chandimal b Theekshana    15

T. Shamsi not out                       9

Extras (lb1, nb1, w6)                   8

Total (all out, 30 overs)             125

Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Markram), 2-9 (Hendricks), 3-19 (van der Dussen), 4-45 (Malan), 5-48 (Mulder), 6-54 (Klaasen), 7-91 (Phehlukwayo), 8-100 (Rabada), 9-102 (Linde), 10-125 (Maharaj)

Bowling: Chameera 4-1-16-2, Jayawickrama 4-0-18-1, Hasaranga 8-3-32-2 (w4), Theekshana 10-0-37-4 (nb1, w2), De Silva 3-0-18-0, Aslanka 1-0-3-1

Toss: Sri Lanka

Result: Sri Lanka won by 78 runs

Series: Sri Lanka won the three-match series 2-1