Twitter Reactions: Sri Lanka cling on after 13-wicket day in Durban

Dale Steyn picked up a four-wicket haul.

By Sabyasachi Chowdhury

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Dale Steyn picked up a four-wicket haul.
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South Africa’s Dale Steyn (Photo by Anesh DEBIKY / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANESH DEBIKY/AFP/Getty Images)

Sri Lanka fought hard on day 1 of their first Test against South Africa at the Kingsmead in Durban. However, a poor batting show on the second day meant that the Proteas got a foothold into the contest. Their batsmen were put to test by the Proteas pace battery. The visitors, led by Faf du Plessis picked some wickets late in the day, but the hosts are well and truly in the ascendancy with a 170-run lead.

 Steyn wrecks havoc

Dimuth Karunaratne and Oshada Fernando were the overnight batsmen and were in a tricky task. Nevertheless, Dale Steyn trapped the latter plumb in front to pick up the day’s first wicket. In the next over, Vernon Philander accounted for Karunaratne’s wicket. Kusal Mendis was the fourth wicket to fall and Niroshan Dickwell fell soon after. All of a sudden, Sri Lanka found themselves at 90 for 5 in 29.2 overs.

At the other end, Kusal Perera didn’t show signs of nervousness and played his strokes freely without nurturing any inhibitions. The left-hander scored a half-century off 60 balls but fell prey to Steyn. The likes of Dhananjaya de Silva and Lasith Ambuldeniya showed resistance with knocks of 23 and 24. Lanka were bowled out for 191, thereby conceding a lead of 44 runs. Steyn picked up four crucial wickets.

Lanka make a comeback

Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram didn’t play any shot out of anger and made sure that they build on the already substantial lead. The duo put on 36 from 10 overs for the opening wicket.  Fast bowler Kasun Rajitha got rid of Markram, who looked fluent after scoring 28 runs from 31 balls with three boundaries. Hashim Amla tried his heart out and he was dismissed for 16 runs with left-armer Vishwa Fernando.

Temba Bavuma couldn’t survive the heat and perished after getting three off 16 balls. Elgar looked determined to play till the close of play and to the visitors’ dismay, Ambuldeniya sent him packing for 35 runs. Du Plessis and Quinton de Kock made sure that the Proteas don’t suffer any more hiccup. While the skipper is not out on 25 from 56, the left-hander De Kock scored a run-a-ball 15.

Here is how Twitter reacted

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