The Proteas want to kill off Sri Lanka in the five-match ODI series in Pallekele on Sunday (6.15am).
Opener Quinton de Kock blasted 87 off 78 balls to help South Africa to a 2-0 series lead in the second ODI on Wednesday.
Wednesday. And the 25-year-old doesn’t want to take his foot off the gas before they return to South Africa.
With three more ODIs, including Sunday’s match, and a single T20I to play, De Kock wants to win them all to erase the memory of SA’s embarrassing 2-0 Test series defeat.
He explains: “Winning the series will also be a great way [to help us get over the Test series defeat] and then hopefully we win the last two also – that’s what we’re pushing for.
“The Test series was a tough one for us, so we try and play our best cricket in the ODI format.”
Both De Kock and his opening partner Hashim Amla have come under scrutiny of late with below-par performances for the national team.
But after sharing a 91-run partnership for the first wicket on Wednesday, De Kock believes they are finding their rhythm once again.
He says: “His [Amla’s] demeanour is very relaxed, so we keep each other very calm [in the middle].
“That’s what we do well together.
“It’s nice to finally bat again with Hash. I can’t remember the last time me and him batted together.
“It’s nice to score some runs together with him.”
Of his personal form, De Kock adds: “I am more satisfied than I was in the Test matches. I’m starting to add some value which is always nice.
“It’s great to be on the winning team in Sri Lanka, so all things are good at the moment.”
While the pitches have not allowed for as much spin as it did in the Tests, De Kock is also adamant that South Africa are beginning to play the slow bowlers better.
He concludes: “Coming from the Test series it was quite difficult to play spin when the wickets have been given chance to deteriorate over a few days.
“We practised hard during the Test series to play spin and it’s nice to finally be playing spin properly.”
Sri Lanka v South Africa
Third ODI
Sunday at 6.30am, Pallekele