SA v SL 2nd Test, Day 3 Review: South Africa 6 short of series win

Another day in the South Africa v Sri Lanka Test series was all about the hosts dominating the inexperienced Lankans. After bowling them out with a 282-run lead in the first innings Faf du Plessis didn’t enforce the follow-on and they were out batting again. Their second knock was not the most satisfying but by the time Faf called Keshav Maharaj and Vernon Philander back they had a massive 506-run lead. When their bowlers got to have a go at the Sri Lankan batsmen Kagiso Rabada & Co. were once again too hot to handle for them.

The Proteas started the day at 35/0 with Stephen Cook and Dean Elgar unbeaten on 15 and 19 respectively. They got over the 50-run mark and then Suranga Lakmal had Cook poke at a delivery on the off stump and caught by Karunaratne at first slip and he walked back on 30. His partner Dean Elgar, the centurion from the first inning got his third consecutive fifty plus score here. Having dealt with the pacer really well he got a bit too excited against the left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and paid for it as he was out caught by skipper Angelo Mathews for 55.

JP Duminy played a strokeful knock and so did skipper Faf du Plessis. They scored 30 and 41 respectively and got the team some quick runs. Temba Bavuma was run out for a duck, Quinton de Kock contributed 29. The lower order pair of Maharaj and Philander scored 20 and 15 respectively and took the lead over 500 and that is when Faf called them back.

The changeover still gave them a few overs to have a go at the Lankans and Vernon Philander struck in the 6th over. He sent back Karunaratne setting him up beautifully for the inswinger and it found the gap between his bat and pad to disturb the timber. He made gave them the second blow soon after the break and Kusal Mendis was on his way back caught by Elgar having scored just 4 runs. Sri Lanka could sense the trouble rising as they were 2 down for just 25.

Also read- South Africa v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Day 3 – 5 Talking Points

In the post Lunch session, Kagiso Rabada also got into the act and came hard at the visitors. He was quick, he bowled troubling lines and found success with the first wicket of Kausal Silva who had until then scored 29 runs from 70 deliveries. He made it two in the same over booking the return for Dhananjaya de Silva having found his pads in front of the wickets. He took a review but was in vain. Sri Lanka were now in a grave situation with their top four batsmen back in the pavilion while all they had on the board was 69 runs.

Two of their most experienced players who have always been expected to take up the responsibility skipper Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal then got together and started the repairs. One bolt at a time they tightened while dodging the challenge from Philander, Maharaj, Rabada, and Kyle Abbott. They took their time at the crease and showed application as well as patience. The partnership ensured Sri Lanka didn’t lose any further wickets in the evening and also that the Test didn’t end just on the third day.

At stumps on Day 3, Mathews is batting on 29 while Chandimal is unbeaten on 28. They have added 59 runs for the fifth wicket and everyone knows this is the most important partnership. Though it will require a miracle to dishonor the verdict that has already been written averting the defeat is certainly inevitable while all they can do is try and defy.

Brief Scores:

South Africa –

1st innings: 392/10 (D Elgar 129; C Kumar 6/112)

2nd innings: 224/7 (D Elgar 55; S Lakmal 4/69)

Sri Lanka –

1st innings: 110/10 (V Philander 2/22, K Rabada 4/37)

2nd innings: 130/4 (A Mathews 29*; V Philander 2/34)