It wasn't the most exciting game, but South Africa's players and fans won't complain as they beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the second ODI in East London.

The Proteas chased down the 237 posted by Sri Lanka on a slow Buffalo Park pitch in 48.4 overs to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Hashim Amla was once again the man who did the hard work upfront for the hosts with a half-century, but he was well backed up JP Duminy - who finished with an unbeaten 66 - while there were also contributions from Graeme Smith (28) and Jacques Kallis (37).

Smith, who is under pressure to produce a big innings, looked determined to toughen it out but he eventually lost patience and mistimed a pull off Dhammika Prasad to mid-off. The in-form Amla eased to his 16th half-ton, but he was bowled by Prasad for 55 after being rooted to his crease.

Kallis and Duminy, who was promoted to No 4 in the order, shared a 58-run stand as the hosts went past the 150-run mark, but the former became Prasad's third victim when he picked out to the man on the cover boundary.

Captain de Villiers and Duminy injected some pace during the latter stages of the innings and their 41-run fourth-wicket stand came off just 33 balls.

De Villiers was run out for 17 and Faf du Plessis, caught and bowled by Lasith Malinga, added 18 to ease South Africa closer and it was left to Duminy take them over the finish line.

For Sri Lanka it was a much improved batting display following their 43-all out effort in the first game in Paarl.

Some light showers at Buffalo Park meant the start of the match was delayed by just over 30 minutes. When play got underway, de Villiers won the toss and elected bat under cloudy skies.

With the ball struggling to come onto the bat, Sri Lanka were always going to a lot more circumspect.

Their cause was not helped when captain Tillakaratne Dilshan ran himself out for duck in the second over and Kumar Sangakkara nicked Lonwabo Tsotsobe to wicketkeeper de Villiers when on three.

Tharanga and Chandimal took on the responsibility of getting Sri Lanka up and running and, although they meandered through the early stages of the innings, their 84-run stand gave the side a platform.

The left-handed Tharanga made 50 off 69 balls before he edged Morne Morkel to the wicketkeeper.

Veteran Mahela Jayawardene came and went quickly and Nuwan Kulasekara appeared to give the innings some impetus by smashing two sixes and two fours in his innings of 22 from 13 balls. His cameo, though, came to an end when he skied Morkel and Robin Peterson took a catch over his left shoulder at long-on.

Chandimal kept going at the other end and notched up a half-century from 84 balls. While he was playing the anchoring role, the acceleration from Angelo Mathews wasn't quite quick enough at the other end.

Chandimal couldn't quite manage to get to the magical three figures and finished eight short of a ton while Mathews was out off the final ball of the innings when he hit Dale Steyn to mid-off.