Wayne Parnell and Imran Tahir took three wickets each as South Africa cruised to an eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first one-day international in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl, restricting the tourists to 181 all out in 48.3 overs on a slow wicket.

The home side never looked troubled, reaching their target with 94 balls remaining to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Kusal Mendis provided lone resistance for Sri Lanka, who were rocked by two early strikes from Parnell, before Tahir ripped through their middle-order.

Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla put on 71 for the first wicket, before the former offered a catch to cover off Lakshan Sandakan.

Amla posted his 31st ODI half-century before he was caught and bowled by Asela Gunaratne but Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers steered South Africa home with ease.

SCORES IN BRIEF

SRI LANKA: 181 all out in 48.3 ov (Mendis 62, de Silva 28; Tahir 3-26, Parnell 3-48)

SOUTH AFRICA: 185 for 2 in 34.2 overs (Amla 57, du Plessis 55 not out, de Kock 34; Gunaratne 1-19)

Result: South Africa won by 8 wickets.

Player-of-the-match: Imran Tahir.