Tillakaratne Dilshan smashed an unbeaten 74 off 51 balls as Sri Lanka defeated South Africa by six wickets in the final Twenty20 game Tuesday.

The hosts, already down 0-2 in the series, launched a spirited chase of South Africa’s challenging 163-3 to win the day-night game in Hambantota with 11 balls to spare.

South Africa won the series 2-1, making amends for the 1-4 defeat in the preceding one-dayers on the tour.

But Tuesday’s victory was crucial for Sri Lanka, who would have slipped to number three in the T20 rankings behind Pakistan and South Africa had they been whitewashed 3-0.

Dilshan brought up the thrilling win off the first ball of the 19th over, lofting Morne Morkel for his second six. He also hit nine boundaries.

Former captain Mahela Jayawardene hit a quickfire 33 in an opening stand of 67 off 35 balls with Dilshan to help Sri Lanka make a rollicking start.

The hosts were 123-4 in the 16th over when Thisara Perera (25 not out) put on a match-winning stand of 41 with Dilshan for the fifth wicket.

With 27 runs needed off the final 18 balls, the big-hitting Perera took 21 runs from the 18th over bowled by Wayne Parnell to ease the pressure.

“It was not an easy target to chase, but the start I got with Mahela helped,” said Dilshan, who was named man of the match.

“We may have lost the series, but it feels good to win this game.”

South African captain Faf Du Plessis said the series win will boost his team ahead of next year’s World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.

“It’s a big trophy to take back on the plane,” he said.

“This series was a good experience for the boys because the conditions in Bangladesh will not be much different from here.”