De Silva, Kusal Mendis keep Sri Lanka in the hunt in Gqeberha

Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis have kept Sri Lanka in the contest in the ongoing second Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka. Set a target of 348 on Day 4, Sri Lanka had a jittery start, losing Dimuth Karunaratne early, who got out to Kagiso Rabada for the fourth time in the series. 

Sri Lanka were 64/3 when Dinesh Chandimal was out LBW to Dane Paterson. Angelo Matthews (32) and Kamindu Mendis (35) added 53 for the fourth wicket, but both batters were out in quick succession, reducing the tourists to 122/5. 

However, de Silva and Kusal, both 39*, absorbed the pressure to forge an unbeaten 83-run stand (from only 117 balls). Meanwhile, Sri Lanka, 205/5 at stumps on Day 4, would be miffed with several batters getting their eye in and getting out. But as things stand, they are 143 runs away with five wickets in hand, keeping this see-saw Test in balance heading into the final day. 

Earlier in the day, South Africa resumed their second innings at 191/3. Within the first hour of the day’s play, Tristan Stubbs was run out for 47, trying to return to the non-striker’s end for a second run. Much like Sri Lanka’s innings, South Africa also had batters getting out after getting acclimatised to the conditions. David Bedingham (35 from 55) and Kyle Verreynne (9 from 27) couldn’t convert their starts. Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma, 48* overnight, could also stretch his second innings score to only 66. 

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South Africa scored only 126 runs, losing their remaining seven wickets on Day 4. Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, who had picked two wickets by the end of Day 3, extended his spell to his first five-for in Tests overseas. 

Keshav Maharaj and Dane Paterson then added a vital 27-run stand for the final wicket.

The highest fourth innings total chased at St. George’s Park in Gqeberha is 270, chased by Australia with two wickets remaining in 1997. In this century, the record belongs to Sri Lanka, when they chased down 197 with eight wickets remaining in 2019. Kusal Mendis then scored an unbeaten 84 to hand Sri Lanka a 2-0 series win. 

Sri Lanka would want to stretch the ongoing stand between de Silva and Kusal as much as possible given their following batters are all bowlers – Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara and Vishwa Fernando. 

South Africa won the first Test 233 runs and lead the two-match Test series 1-0. 

Brief Score

Sri Lanka 328 (Pathum Nissanka 89, Dane Paterson 5/71) & 205/5 (Dhananjaya de Silva 39*, Kusal Mendis 39*) trail South Africa 358 (Ryan Rickelton 101, Lahiru Kumara 4/79) & 317 (Bavuma 66, Jayasuriya 5/129) by 142 runs

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