New-look Proteas beat Sri Lanka in shortened T20
Farhaan Behardien was able to celebrate a victory in his first game as South Africa captain after rain had led to a delayed start.
A much-changed South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 19 runs in a rain-affected first game of a Twenty20 series that was reduced to 10 overs per side at Centurion.
Farhaan Behardien, named as captain for the three-match series with Faf du Plessis among a host of players rested, made 31 not out from 18 balls and David Miller top scored with 40 off 18 as the Proteas posted 126-5.
Niroshan Dickwella (44 off 19 deliveries) got Sri Lanka off to a flyer, but Imran Tahir and Lungi Ngidi - one of five South Africa debutants - took two wickets apiece to give Behardien a winning start to his short spell as skipper on his home ground.
Heino Kuhn (10), playing his first T20 international since 2011, and debutant JJ Smuts (13) went cheaply after persistent rain led to a delayed start and a shortened game.
South Africa were 54-3 in the fifth over when Asela Gunaratne took a second catch to dismiss Theunis de Bruyn, another of the new boys, but a 51-run stand from Miller and Behardien frustrated Sri Lanka.
Miller was the chief aggressor, smashing three sixes and as many fours with some trademark clean hitting before he was caught in the deep off Nuwan Kulasekara (2-27).
Behardien was dropped by Suranga Lakmal in the deep and added insult to injury by launching the next ball from Nuwan Pradeep over the ropes and Mangaliso Mosehle hit the first ball he faced in international cricket for six but was then run out without taking strike again.
Sri Lanka were well on course to chase down their target with Dickwella dishing out some brutal punishment and Dhananjaya de Silva (27 from 16) also getting a start.
But experienced spinner Tahir (2-23) got rid of both openers to turn the ride in an eventful sixth over which included two sixes from De Silva.
Thikshila de Silva was gone for a golden duck on debut and although Seekkuge Prasanna started his innings by hitting his first two balls for six Sri Lanka fell short, with the impressive Ngidi (2-12) striking twice - including a catch from Tahir after Kuhn tossed the ball to him before landing over the ropes.
