NEW LANDS: Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat in the fifth and final one-day international against South Africa at Newlands on Saturday.
It was the third time that Sri Lankan captain Lasith Malinga won the toss, but the first occasion on which he chose to bat in a series in which they have lost all four matches.
“We want to bat freely and play a full 50-over game,” he said.
“The players have a good opportunity to show their character.”
Sri Lanka made two changes. Angelo Perera and Akila Dananjaya came in for Kamindu Mendis and Kasun Rajitha.
South African captain Faf du Plessis said he would have preferred to bat because he wanted some of his less experienced players to make a contribution in a full 50 overs.
Specialist batsman David Miller was rested and South Africa picked all-rounders Dwaine Pretorius and Andile Phehlukwayo to bat at numbers six and seven.
“There is real responsibility on the all-rounders to score runs,” he said.