Faf's 185 edges Proteas closer to No.1

A career-best 185 from Faf du Plessis has led South Africa to a tense 40-run victory over Sri Lanka in the fourth ODI at Newlands, putting the Proteas on the brink of claiming the world No.1 ranking.

Du Plessis' phenomenal knock helped the home side to 5-367, the highest ODI total in the ground's history, after it had won the toss and elected to bat.

In reply, Sri Lanka produced its best batting performance of an otherwise disappointing tour, with Upul Tharanga scoring a century to give the hosts an almighty scare, but that was still not enough as the tourists were bowled out for 327.

With South Africa taking a 4-0 lead in the five-match series, it will have the opportunity to rise above Australia in the ICC rankings and claim top spot by winning the final encounter at Centurion on Friday.

Although Du Plessis fell three runs short of Gary Kirsten's 1996 record for the highest score by a South African batsman in ODI cricket, his 185 was the biggest by any batsman on South African soil, surpassing Quinton de Kock's 178 against Australia at Centurion last September.

Du Plessis put on century stands with De Kock (55) and AB de Villiers (64) as he went past his previous top score of 133 not out, and then ramped up the onslaught in the final 10 overs, when South Africa added 106.

He was eventually out in the final over when he was caught on the boundary, attempting a six that would have taken him past Kirsten's record.

Sri Lanka made an aggressive start to its response, with Tharanga putting on 139 for the first wicket with Niroshan Dickwella in just 16 overs.

Although the stand was broken when Dwaine Pretorius had Dickwella (58) caught in the deep, Tharanga went on to reach his 14th ODI century - and first since July 2013 - and added a further 64 with Kusal Mendis.

Sri Lanka's chase faltered when Mendis (29) and Tharanga (119) fell in quick succession to Wayne Parnell.

But the tourists were well and truly on course for an incredible victory when they moved to 4-307 in the 44th over thanks to Sandun Weerakkody (58), but they lost their final six wickets for 20 as Parnell finished with 4-58.