COLOMBO, Jan 12: A Sri Lankan minister slammed the country's cricket team on Thursday, blaming poor team spirit for its humiliating 258-run thrashing by South Africa, the island's worst One-day International defeat (partly reported in Thursday's edition).

Government spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said he was 'horrified' when Sri Lanka were dismissed for 43 runs at Boland Park in Paarl onWednesday, their lowest one-day score.

Rambukwella said the loss was humiliating to cricket-crazy Sri Lankans who won the 1996 World Cup and emerged runners-up at the 2011 World Cup.

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage had blasted the national team even before Wednesday's defeat, saying the side was in 'crisis' due to divisive politics among the players.

Sri Lanka have already lost the Test series to South Africa 21. After a five-match ODI series with South Africa, Sri Lanka head for a tri-series tournament in Australia which also includes World Cup winners India.

Their total on Wednesday equalled the fourth previous lowest score ever in 50 overs internationals and the victory margin was the third largest. The Sri Lankans' previous lowest score was 55 against West Indies in Sharjah in 1986.

Pace bowlers Morne Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe claimed seven wickets between themas Sri Lanka, chasing 302 for victory, were shot out in 20.1 overs.

Hashim Amla earlier scored a century at opener before Morkel destroyed the Sri Lankan top-order with pace and bounce to claim four for 10 off six overs. Tsotsobe also created havoc with the new ball, taking three for 19 in six overs with his left-arm seamers.-Agencies

Scoreboard SOUTH AFRICA: G. Smith c Sangakkara b Malinga    6 H. Amla c Sangakara b Malinga    112 J. Kallis run out    72 A.B. de Villiers b N. Kulasekara    52 J. Morkel c Mathews b Malinga    25 J. Duminy c and b Mendis    1 F. du Plessis b Malinga    10 R. Peterson not out    4 D. Steyn b Malinga    1 M. Morkel not out    1

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-15)    17 TOTAL (eight wkts, 50 overs)    301 FALL OF WKTS: 1-9, 2-153, 3-244, 4-279, 5-279, 6-283, 7-298, 8-300. DID NOT BAT: L.L. Tsotsobe. BOWLING: Malinga 10-0-54-5 (1w); N. Kulasekara 10-0-50-1 (1w); Fernando 9-0-65-0 (2w); Mathews 5-0-23-0 (1w); K. Kulasekara 6-0-36-0 (1w); Dilshan 2-0-17-0; Mendis 8-0-54-1 (1w).

SRI LANKA: Tharanga c Duminy b M. Morkel    0 T. Dilshan c Villiers b Tsotsobe    0 Sangakkara c De Villiers b M. Morkel    4 L. Chandimal b Tsotsobe    4 M. Jayawardene c Du Plessis b Tsotsobe    2 A. Mathews c Peterson b M. Morkel    0 K. Kulasekara c Peterson b M. Morkel    19 N. Kulasekara c Du Plessis b Steyn    6 L. Malinga b Peterson    1 A. Mendis not out    3 D. Fernando lbw b Peterson    0

EXTRAS (W-2, NB-2)    4 TOTAL (all out, 20.1 overs)    43 FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-4, 3-8, 4-9, 5-9, 6-13, 7-24, 8-33, 9-43. BOWLING: M. Morkel 6-2-10-4; Tsotsobe 6-1-19-3 (1nb, 1w); Steyn 3-0-7-1 (1nb, 1w); J.A. Morkel 2-0-2-0; Peterson 3.1-0-5-2.

RESULT: South Africa won by 258 runs. UMPIRES: M. Erasmus (South Africa) and B.R. Doctrove (West Indies). TV UMPIRE: R.A. Kettleborough (England). MATCH REFEREE: J.J. Crowe (New Zealand). MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Morne Morkel. NEXT MATCH: East London, Saturday.