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Sri Lanka’s batting collapse continued as they lost their last six wickets for just 67 runs, leaving them facing a daunting 221-run deficit that threatens to grow. At stumps on day three at St George’s Park, South Africa had extended their lead to 221 runs, reaching 191 for 3 in their second innings. The visitors’ […]
Sri Lanka’s batting collapse continued as they lost their last six wickets for just 67 runs, leaving them facing a daunting 221-run deficit that threatens to grow. At stumps on day three at St George’s Park, South Africa had extended their lead to 221 runs, reaching 191 for 3 in their second innings. The visitors’ first-innings score of 328, bolstered by strong innings from Nissanka (89), Kamindu (48), and Mathews and Chandimal (44 each), was eclipsed by a disciplined South African bowling attack. Dane Paterson led the charge with his maiden Test five-wicket haul, supported by Maharaj (2-65) and Jansen (2-100).
Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs built an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 82 runs, giving South Africa the upper hand. Bavuma, who already has over 300 runs in the series, is on the verge of scoring his fourth consecutive fifty-plus score. Despite a two-month injury layoff, which kept him out of competitive cricket, Bavuma’s renewed approach has paid off; his batting is now more assertive, and he looks in fine touch, leading the charge as South Africa solidifies their position in the match.
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Ten wickets fell on the third day, the most in the match so far, but the conditions remained favorable for batting under clear, blue skies. Sri Lanka’s seam attack continued to extract some movement, and there was also a touch of spin from Prabath Jayasuriya, which will likely be a concern for South Africa more than for their opponents. With the pitch expected to deteriorate in the dry conditions of day four, Keshav Maharaj could play a pivotal role in the final innings.
Sri Lanka, aiming to take the remaining seven wickets, will be buoyed by the fact that the highest successful chase at this ground stands at 271, and South Africa are just 50 runs away from that mark. However, they can take some confidence from the hints of spin that have already yielded results. Their first breakthrough came when Jayasuriya deceived Tony de Zorzi, who was out for 15 after trying to drive a ball that curved through the bat-pad gap, ending a 55-run opening partnership. De Zorzi’s series was a letdown, totaling just 40 runs across four innings after arriving with the promise of his recent 177-run performance in Bangladesh.
Markram, his opening partner, fared better despite an early scare when he edged Asitha Fernando’s second delivery, which fell just short of second slip. As his innings progressed, Markram began to look more confident, though he never seemed entirely at ease. He reached fifty with a well-timed cover drive that demonstrated his control, marking his first half-century in 12 innings across formats. However, his stay was brief as he was dismissed just six balls later, caught one-handed by a diving Kusal Mendis, who displayed impeccable anticipation, after edging a cover drive off Vishwa.
Ryan Rickelton began with the same cautious approach he showed in his first innings but fell short of another century when he was trapped in front by a Jayasuriya delivery that skidded onto him, ending his innings on 24.
Stubbs and Bavuma, both fresh off second-innings centuries in Durban, settled in to weather the storm over the next eight overs, scoring only 13 runs. Sri Lanka reviewed an lbw appeal against Stubbs off Asitha, but ball-tracking showed it was going down leg. Bavuma found his first boundary when he edged Kumara through the vacant slip area, then launched a pull shot off Jayasuriya for six, followed by an impressive strike over long-off for another six. Stubbs, true to form, was the more aggressive partner, taking risks even as the day drew to a close. In the third-to-last over, a moment of fortune came his way as he attempted a reverse scoop and bottom-edged it between Mendis and first slip for a lucky boundary.
South Africa seized control early on when Marco Jansen made the breakthrough with the old ball in the 10th over of the morning. He bowled a delivery that reared up off the surface and caught the glove of a well-set Angelo Mathews, who was unable to fend it off cleanly. Kyle Verreynne took the catch in front of his face, marking an important breakthrough for the hosts.
Having conceded just 24 runs in the first 13 overs of the day, South Africa wasted no time in taking the new ball when it became available, and it immediately paid dividends. Kamindu Mendis, who had been dropped by de Zorzi at short leg earlier, edged Jansen’s third delivery of the spell as it took extra bounce. Jansen then troubled Kusal Mendis with another rising delivery, striking him on the glove and creating further chances for a wicket.
Kusal’s first chance came when he hesitated on leaving a ball down leg and edged it. Verreynne dived full stretch to his left, getting fingertips on the ball but unable to complete the catch—one that, while difficult, could have been taken. The next opportunity was simpler; Kusal’s thick outside edge off a short delivery went to first slip, but Markram, fielding at second, dived across David Bedingham and dropped the chance. Kusal’s luck did not improve as he later edged Paterson to the right of Stubbs at gully, who took the catch and ensured Paterson had the final say.
After delivering two outstanding spells on the second day, Dane Paterson continued to extract late movement and maintain disciplined lines, reaping the rewards of his consistent bowling. The turning point came in his second over when Dhananjaya de Silva edged the first ball, setting the stage for a dramatic collapse. Two balls later, Kusal Mendis was undone by a delivery that nipped back into him, knocking the bails off. Paterson then claimed Lahiru Kumara with a stunning catch by Marco Jansen, who dived full stretch to his left at gully. In the span of just four balls, Sri Lanka had plunged from a relatively stable 297 for 5 to 298 for 8, handing South Africa a 60-run lead.
Jayasuriya briefly reduced the deficit with three well-placed boundaries, dragging the innings into the second session where Paterson sought his fifth wicket. He thought he had it when Jayasuriya was struck on the pad, prompting Bavuma to review the decision. However, ball-tracking showed the ball would have clipped leg stump, resulting in an umpire’s call.
Paterson soon found success with a regulation dismissal as Vishwa Fernando edged a delivery to Verreynne behind the stumps. Celebrating passionately, Paterson performed the baby-cradle gesture in honor of his newborn child. Just five balls later, Jayasuriya attempted to charge down the track to a tossed-up delivery from Maharaj but was stumped, ending Sri Lanka’s innings 25 minutes into the second session. South Africa now held a 30-run lead.
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