South Africa has ascended to the second position on the World Test Championship (WTC) table following a commanding 233-run victory against Sri Lanka in Durban, thereby ending the visitors’ unbeaten streak at this location. Marco Jansen concluded the match with a total of 11 wickets, achieving figures of 4 for 73 in the second innings.
South Africa, having set Sri Lanka a target of 516 runs and secured five wickets by the end of the third day, likely anticipated that the fourth day would be a mere formality. However, they faced a challenging contest as Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva both scored half-centuries, alongside Kusal Mendis who contributed 48 runs, compelling South Africa to exert considerable effort until well into the second session. Ultimately, Sri Lanka was dismissed for 282 runs, which represented a significant improvement over their initial innings performance.
South Africa's batting struggle as they fold at 191 in the first innings
On the opening day, more than two sessions were lost due to rain; however, the second day witnessed Sri Lanka persistently challenging South Africa amidst clear skies. The Sri Lankan fast bowlers had dismantled the top order in overcast conditions on the first day, and their effectiveness persisted even with the sun shining. The pitch provided sufficient assistance to maintain the interest of pacers Lahiru Kumara and Vishwa Fernando during their initial spells.
The player enhanced his tally of two wickets from the first day by dismissing Kyle Verreynne leg before wicket at the start of the second day. Additionally, Kumara struck Wiaan Mulder on the glove shortly thereafter, compelling him to leave the field.Â
With the score now diminished to 85/6 in Mulder’s absence, South Africa found themselves in urgent need of a partnership to support the determined Temba Bavuma. The captain briefly found a reliable ally in Marco Jansen, as the two focused heavily on defensive play. However, Sri Lanka countered this strategy by bringing in spin bowler Prabath Jayasuriya.
Gerald Coetzee did not exhibit the same defensive approach as Jansen had previously shown. An ambitious shot aimed at Jayasuriya resulted in a miscue that was caught by Kamindu Mendis at deep midwicket, who made a commendable low catch while diving forward. However, Keshav Maharaj, who followed him to the crease, alleviated some of the pressure on Bavuma by striking Jayasuriya for two lofted shots down the ground and then executing an inside-out shot over cover, thereby securing some valuable boundaries. During this phase, Bavuma, who had been stuck on 49, eventually managed to reach a hard-earned fifty, marking his 22nd in Test matches.
But just as Maharaj was looking comfortable, Sri Lanka changed the plan around and attacked him with pace from both ends. That move worked soon enough as Maharaj chipped Vishwa Fernando to mid off leaving South Africa precariously poised. Bavuma went on the offensive soon after, driving Kumara through cover and straight down the ground and even upper-cutting him for a six. Mulder had been deemed available if necessary, and he was required to bat as Bavuma eventually skied a big hit off Asitha Fernando to be dismissed for 70.
Mulder hung in as the last wicket pair added 26 before Kagiso Rabada pulled one down to fine leg, as South Africa finished with 191.
Marco Jansen stars as Sri Lanka register their lowest ever test score
South Africa achieved a remarkable feat by dismissing Sri Lanka for a mere 42 runs, marking their lowest score in Test history, in just 83 balls. Marco Jansen delivered an exceptional performance, recording figures of 7 wickets for 13 runs. This performance granted South Africa a first innings lead of 149 runs on a day characterized by the fall of 16 wickets within two sessions. The seaming conditions in Durban posed significant challenges for the Sri Lankan batsmen, who struggled to defend themselves as they either edged the ball or were bowled out, showing no signs of stability at the crease.
While Kagiso Rabada started the carnage having Dimuth Karunaratne nicking to first slip, Jansen proved to be the wrecker-in-chief. He had Pathum Nissanka pushing out at a delivery angled across and edging while Dinesh Chandimal was cleaned up with a delivery that seamed in. Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva were dismissed trying to force the pace while the tail was left as clueless as the top-order and in between Gerald Coetzee chipped in with the dismissals of Kamindu and Kusal Mendis leaving Sri Lanka in complete disarray.
Following their dismissal for the lowest total against South Africa, Jansen’s 41-ball performance resulted in the third-best statistics recorded by a South African fast bowler on home soil. The 149-run lead established was the largest for South Africa in matches where they had been bowled out for fewer than 200 runs. On a pitch conducive to bowlers and characterized by low scores, this lead was significant. Prior to this, South Africa had struggled to reach 191, largely due to Temba Bavuma’s contribution of 70 runs, placing them in a precarious position.
Temba Bavuma's and Tristan Stubbs's centuries help South Africa set a target of 516 runs
Tristan Stubbs and Temba Bavuma’s centuries placed Sri Lanka in a challenging position during the post-lunch session on the third day, as South Africa declared at Tea with a substantial lead of 515 runs. With a commanding advantage in the Test match, Stubbs and Bavuma effectively batted Sri Lanka out of contention through their formidable partnership.
Bavuma struck the boundary on only the second delivery of the day; however, Sri Lanka managed to contain the pair effectively in the initial stages. Stubbs, who had scored 19 runs off 68 balls at one moment, eventually released the pressure with a skillfully executed reverse sweep against Prabath Jayasuriya. He followed this by driving a shot off the back foot through the covers against the same bowler in the subsequent over.
Stubbs quickly found his rhythm after the resumption, striking Dhananjaya de Silva through extra cover for his first boundary of the session. In the subsequent over, Bavuma also began to assert himself, executing a sweep off Prabath Jayasuriya for a boundary. Stubbs then propelled the score beyond the 400-run threshold and launched a massive six off Kamindu Mendis, bringing him into the 90s.
Sri Lanka promptly opted for the second new ball; however, they were unable to create any difficulties as Stubbs reached his second Test century. At one stage, he was given out lbw, but he successfully overturned the decision. Following the drinks break, a tense Bavuma had to be patient before he could celebrate his century, as Sri Lanka requested a review after he attempted a sweep shot. The replays indicated that he had just touched the ball with his glove, which ultimately spared him from dismissal.
Stubbs subsequently seemed to change his approach as he faced Vishwa Fernando, hitting consecutive boundaries until the bowler eventually succeeded in dismissing the South African. Despite the disruption of the partnership, further difficulties awaited the Sri Lankans as David Bedingham hit a boundary with his first delivery and followed it up with a six on the next. In a short span, the lead exceeded 500 before the other centurion was adjudged lbw. This dismissal prompted a break for Tea, during which South Africa concluded that they had amassed a sufficient total and gave Sri Lanka a target of 516 runs.
Dhananjaya De Silva's and Dinesh Chandimal's failed attempt at chasing the target
The home team squandered a review quite early in the match, but this did not have significant consequences. Kagiso Rabada struck first, dismissing Dimuth Karunaratne, who edged a wide delivery. Following this, Pathum Nissanka adopted an aggressive approach, hitting Gerald Coetzee for three boundaries in a single over. He was granted a second chance in the subsequent over when Rabada bowled a no-ball. Nevertheless, the opener failed to capitalize on this opportunity and was subsequently dismissed leg before wicket in the following over.
Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews commenced their innings with a series of boundaries, establishing a promising partnership. At one stage, it seemed that this seasoned duo would guide Sri Lanka to a secure position by the end of the day. However, Marco Jansen’s round-the-wicket delivery resulted in Mathews being trapped lbw, marking his second dismissal in the Test. Subsequently, South Africa claimed the crucial wicket of Kamindu Mendis, and a remarkable catch by Tony de Zorzi at short leg led to the dismissal of Jayasuriya just before stumps.
Sri Lanka saw through some tough overs from Kagiso Rabada on the fourth morning to go to Lunch at 220/6, having added 117 runs for the loss of just one wicket.
De Silva and Dinesh Chandimal, who remains not out on 69, commenced the day with a composed approach, demonstrating solid defensive techniques and refraining from playing at the erratic deliveries. The pair achieved a fifty-run partnership by the 15th over, with both batsmen reaching their individual half-centuries shortly thereafter, appearing poised for further runs. De Silva notably struck a six off Maharaj, who managed to beat the bat several times on a pitch that had deteriorated by the fourth day and bowled a couple of maiden overs. Nevertheless, Sri Lanka successfully maintained their advantage over the home side.
De Silva and Chandimal started the day in a stoic manner, offering tight defences and not following the misbehaving ball. The two brought up the fifty-run partnership in the 15th over of the day, with both the batters bringing up their individual fifties soon after and looking good for many more.
De Silva even hit a six against Maharaj, who did beat the bat a fair few times on a fourth day pitch, and even bowled a couple of maidens, but Sri Lanka found a way to pick singles off him. But the partnership, worth 95, ended a few overs before Lunch as de Silva chipped one straight to midwicket.
Fittingly, it was Marco Jansen who picked the final two wickets to finish with 11 wickets in the match, his first 10-fer in Test cricket and the first by a left-arm seamer for South Africa since re-admission, with Brett Schultz’s 9/106 at Colombo SSC in 1993 being the previous best in this period. It was their first victory over Sri Lanka in Durban and their second-biggest ever against the same opposition, a shot in their arm as they look to seal a spot in the World Test Championship final.
SCORECARD: South Africa 191 (Bavuma 70; Asitha 3-44) & 366/5d (Stubbs 122, Bavuma 113) beat Sri Lanka 42 (Jansen 7-13) & 282 (Chandimal 83, de Silva 59; Jansen 4-73, Rabada 2-65) by 233 runs.
