• Beekeeeper to rescue as South Africa wrap up ODI series 3-0 • Players on both teams fall to the floor in evasive action at Wanderers

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A swarm of bees at the Wanderers proved only a temporary delay for South Africa as they eased to a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the ‘pink’ one-day international to wrap up the series 3-0.

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The third match of five encountered an unexpected hazard when bees interrupted play in Johannesburg as attempts to move them on first involved a bucket of coke and then a more conventional supply of honey.

Chris Morris’s over, the 27th of a Sri Lanka innings that amounted to only an inadequate 163 all out in 39.2, lasted for almost half-an-hour until a beekeeper was summoned and worked his magic.

South Africa, who took the field wearing the pink strip used annually in aid of charitable causes, easily continued their long-established knack of winning in that colour – thanks to Dwaine Pretorius’ career-best three for 19 as Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets for 14 runs and only opener Niroshan Dickwella (74) stayed for long after the tourists were put in.

Players on both teams fell to the floor in evasive action while the bees were causing havoc.

But there was no panic in South Africa’s reply, captain AB de Villiers (60no) hitting a 52-ball half-century to guide them to their series-sealing victory under lights with 18 overs to spare.