South Africa v Sri Lanka, 1st Test Day 3 – 5 Talking Points

Hosts South Africa continued their dominance over Sri Lanka as they finished the 3rd day’s play firmly in control of proceedings. Vernon Philander was quick to bag yet another five-wicket haul in his career as the Lankans were shot out for 205 in their 1st essay.With a lead of 81 runs, Dean Elgar and Stephen Cook began in a positive fashion and played some delightful strokes to stitch together a crucial 116 runs partnership for the opening wicket.

While Elgar fell after scoring his fifty, Cook went on to register his 4th Test century and the 3rd of the year. Courtesy his brilliant century the Proteas finished the day’s play at 352/5 with captain Faf du Plessis and wicket-keeper Quinton de Cock in the middle. While de Cock remained unbeaten on 42, Du Plessis too defied the visitors with his resilient 41. With an overall lead of 432 runs, the Proteas are clearly in the driving seat

Late in the day, it was Dhanajaya de Silva who gave the visitors something to smile with his twin wickets of JP Duminy and Temba Bavuma. With du Plessis and de Cock at the crease, the hosts would like to add some quick runs and set the visitors a daunting target to chase in the 4th innings.

1. Dhananjaya de Silva dismissed in the very first ball of the day

Finishing Day 2 at 181/7, overnight batsmen Dhananjaya de Silva would have hoped to carry on from where he left on the 2nd day but that was not to be. A peach of a delivery from Vernon Philander brought an end to de Silva’s fighting knock. It was just what the doctor had ordered for the hosts.

It was a pearler of a delivery which pitched just in the off stump line at a back of a length and moved away at the last moment. It was a perfect delivery in the corridor of uncertainty and de Silva was in two minds whether to go forward or move back which brought his downfall. Following his wicket the visitors were dismissed cheaply in their 1st innings at the score of 205, surrendering 81 runs lead to the hosts.

2. Vernon Philander bags yet another five-wicket haul

Medium-pacer Vernon Philander was immaculate with his line and length and added two more wickets to his kitty after finishing with 3/36 at the end of the 2nd day’s play. He had consistently troubled the top-order and made life difficult for the visiting batsman.

Philander was immediately in the thick of things as he induced a false shot from overnight batsman Dhanajaya de Silva in the very first ball of the innings. It was a brilliant delivery which pitched just on the off stump and moved back late to take the outside edge.

He was quick to add one more to his kitty in that over itself by dismissing Suranga Lakmal. It was a soft dismissal as Lakmal clipped a straight delivery straight to mid-on.

3. Dean Elgar scores a fluent half-century

After scoring a fine 45 in the 1st innings, Dean Elgar scored yet another fluent half-century and shared a crucial 116 runs stand with Stephen Cook for the opening wicket. Elgar looked in good nick from the outset and played some delightful strokes. The southpaw played some gorgeous cover drives and was hardly troubled by the Sri Lankan bowlers.

Elgar moved along nicely and along with Cook, the duo kept on rotating the scoreboard. He was beaten a few times by Suranga Lakmal but in the end, he did overcome his initial burst and went on to score his 4th Test fifty. He was eventually dismissed by Lakmal at the score of 52. It was a short ball outside the off stump and Elgar attempted a pull over midwicket. He only managed top edge it and was accepted gleefully accepted by the mid-on fielder.

4. Stephen Cook’s brilliant century

After showing his character in the Pink ball Test against Australia where he scored a fighting century, Stephen Cook followed it up with another century in the opening Test against the Sri Lankans. Despite being troubled by the pacers early on in the innings, he played out the initial burst and shared an 116 runs partnership with the Elgar.

Despite being a predominantly defensive player, Cook looked to play positively from the outset and rotated the strike along. Whenever there was a loose delivery Cook was always ready to pounce on that. Though it wasn’t a free-flowing innings like his compatriots but it was pretty useful according to the context of the game. He reached his century by tucking a leg sides delivery towards the fine leg region for a single. It was Cook’s 3rd century of the year and he is slowly establishing himself as a perfect right-handed opener with Dean Elgar.

 5. Surprise choice Dhanajaya de Silva chips in with a couple of wickets

Dhananjaya de Silva who batted well for the visitors again came into the play late in the 3rd day’s play as he removed JP Duminy and Temba Bavuma in quick succession with his off breaks. Not known for his bowling, the youngster helped the visitors to get a breakthrough after toiling hard in the field for a long time.

Pitched around the off stump region the ball kept straight and didn’t turn. Duminy played for the turn and it took the outside edge of the bat to be safely grabbed by Angelo Mathews in the slips cordon. He followed it up with Temba Bavuma’s wicket with a similar sort of a delivery. As the batsman leaned forward it took the inside edge or the glove of the bat and was safely pouched by the short leg fielder. Though the replays were inconclusive but Bavuma decided against the review.