Atapattu scored his seventh one-day hundred

Marvan Atapattu kept the series alive by notching a century as Sri Lanka beat South Africa by seven wickets in the third match at Benoni.

The opener struck a six and 15 fours in his unbeaten 123 off 121 balls.

He put on 140 for the fourth wicket with Aravinda de Silva and finsihed the game off in style by hoisting Nicky Boje over the ropes.

Sri Lanka got off to a good start chasing 254, with captain Sanath Jayasuriya hitting 23 from 22 deliveries.

South Africa struck back with Makhaya Ntini and Allan Donald removing Jayasruriya and Kumar Sangakkara.

But Atapattu put Sri Lanka back in the driving with De Silva, who hit 10 boundaries in his 71 from 77 balls.

De Silva was bowled trying to pull a good length delivery from South African captain Shaun Pollock, but the damage had been done and Atapattu finished the job off.

Klusener returned to his best form

Jacques Kallis and Lance Klusener earlier both scored half centuries as South Africa recovered from a poor start to post 253-7.

Kallis hit 87 and Klusener made a welcome return to form with a typically agressive 60 as the pair put on 57 runs for the seventh wicket.

Sri Lanka drew early blood, taking two South African wickets in the first six overs after Jayasuriya won the toss and decided to bat first.

Chaminda Vaas won an lbw decision against opener Herschelle Gibbs, although replays showed the delivery apparently pitch outside leg stump.

Chamila Gamage then bowled Boeta Dippenaar for five and South Africa were reduced to 71-5 as Graeme Smith, Jonty Rhodes and Mark Boucher fell.

Kallis and Pollock steadied the ship with a stand of 81 before Jayasuriya picked up the wicket of his counterpart.

Klusener came out to bat bristling with intent and smashed an unbeaten 60 in 57 balls, including a six and seven fours, but his efforts were not enough.

South Africa: Shaun Pollock (capt), Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Lance Klusener, Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Kallis, Jonty Rhodes, Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher, Makhaya Ntini, Allan Donald.

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Russel Arnold, Mahela Jayawardene, Aravinda de Silva, Chaminda Vaas, Hashan Tillakaratne, Hasantha Fernando, Dilhara Fernando, Chamila Gamage.