Twitter Reactions: Sri Lanka surrenders at Wanderers as South Africa wrap up the series 2-0

Sri Lanka poured water over the little spark they created on the second day, in the first session of day three. The South African pacers were spitting fire and the visitors surrendered in front of them after they finished five runs ahead on the previous day. The morning started with some positive strokes from skipper Dimuth Karunaratne’s bat, who slammed consecutive boundaries to record his maiden ton in the rainbow nation. However, he was unable to add too much to his overnight score of 91 and fell to Anrich Nortje for 103.

Nortje’s pace in the morning was seething, and he successfully troubled the visitors by moving the ball just enough and varying his length. Against Karunaratne, he dragged his length slightly short and rushed upon him as he skied a top-edge to Mulder at square leg. Niroshan Dickwella (36 from 68) did not trouble the Proteas for too long and got dismissed the following over. Attempting to swat Ngidi down the ground, Dickwella lobbed up a leading-edge towards Temba Bavuma at mid-off.

With two of their last recognized batsmen in the hut early in the morning, the host’s pacers finished things off pretty quickly. Dasun Shanaka’s (8 from 24) nothing shot off Mulder landed straight to Sipamla at mid-on, whereas Wanindu Hasaranga was knocked over by Sipamla, in the very next over for 16. Striking twice in two balls in his next over, Sipamla cleaned up Ashitha Fernando for a duck after he got Chameera caught by de Kock as Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for 35 runs.

A cakewalk chase for South Africa

Not once in the six innings at the Wanderers did Sri Lanka cross the 200-run mark. Amidst plenty of gloom, the numbers game would have done little to light them up, as despite achieving this feat, the target of 67 set for South Africa was never enough. Coming to bat for a brief passage before Lunch, Dean Elgar (31) and Aiden Markram (36) ensured that South Africa went unscathed. Resuming with fluency after the break, the openers hunted down the target in just 13.2 overs, ensuring a 10-wicket victory and a clean sweep for their team.

Great series win from the @OfficialCSA Proteas impressive individual performances as well as team Work 👏🏾👏🏾💥💥💥

— Andile Phehlukwayo (@andileluck19) January 5, 2021

Clinical Proteas. A win all round for @OfficialCSA – good on the pitch and the bubble worked out this time 👏👌

— Alviro Petersen (@AlviroPetersen) January 5, 2021

🏅 Player of the Series 🏅

Runs: 2️⃣5️⃣3️⃣
Average: 1️⃣2️⃣6️⃣.5️⃣0️⃣
High score: 1️⃣2️⃣7️⃣#SAvSL pic.twitter.com/ntH6NmH6AC

— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) January 5, 2021

The first series trophy the Proteas will lift since 2019 …@IOLsport #SAvSL pic.twitter.com/8jpRjACz2p

— Morgan Bolton (@FreemanZAR) January 5, 2021

Lutho Sipamla 10 wickets at 16 in his first 2 tests, clearly under bowled by QDK yet produced whenever he had a chance. But some people will only remember the bad first day at this level. SA fast bowling stocks in excellent hands. #SAvSL

— Moloantoa Sindane (@MoloantoSindane) January 5, 2021

Lanka have badly missed Rangana Herath here! #SAvSL

— Ken (@KeenObz) January 5, 2021

Sri Lanka last 12 Test Matches abroad

LLLLLLLLLLLLL

Har ched mein itne L lag gye hain, confuse ho gyen hai ke saans kaha se le aur paade kahaan se.@daniel86cricket 🦴🦴🦴#SAvSL

— Sunderdeep Singh (@SSunderdeep) January 5, 2021

1 – Dean Elgar (@OfficialCSA) has averaged 59.4 across his 9 Test knocks since January 2020; the highest rate of any batsman to log 3+ knocks as an opener over that period. Reliable. #SAvSL pic.twitter.com/TbiUkZ1YOQ

— OptaJim (@OptaJim) January 5, 2021