Sri Lanka sink to a record Test low in South Africa

Sri Lanka would have felt confident about being in a good position in the first Test match against South Africa in Durban after bundling out the home side for just 191 in the rain-interrupted first innings.

However, the tables turned so drastically when it was Sri Lanka’s turn to bat that the visitors could only bat 13.5 overs and were blown away by the South African pace trio of Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, and Gerald Coetzee for just 42 runs – their lowest ever total in an Test innings. 

While the pitch was helpful for seamers, the Lankan batters didn’t help themselves, as most were guilty of fishing outside the off stump. Marco Jansen exploited that brilliantly and became only the second player after Hugh Trumble of Australia to take a 7-fer inside seven overs of a Test Innings. The incredulity of Jansen’s achievements can be understood by the fact that Trumble’s 7-fer came more than a century back in 1904. 

Jansen, who gave only 13 runs for his seven wickets, also registered the best-ever bowling figures for a pacer in South Africa this century. He surpassed Kyle Abbott, Shardul Thakur, Matthew Hoggard, and Mitchell Johnson, who had all taken seven wickets, but Jansen’s spell was the most miserly. 

Best-ever figures for a pacer in South Africa this century

7/13 - Marco Jansen vs SL, Durban, 2024*

7/29 - Kyle Abbott vs PAK, Centurion, 2013

7/61 - Shardul Thakur vs SA, Johannesburg, 2022

7/61 - Matthew Hoggard vs SA, Johannesburg, 2005

7/68 - Mitchell Johnson vs SA, Centurion, 2014

Meanwhile, despite the pattern of low scores in South Africa, this was the third-lowest total by a team in a Test innings in South Africa. The only two worse team scores - 30 and 35 (both by South Africa against England) - came in the 19th century. 

The game has moved rapidly on Day 2 after rain caused prolonged delays on Day 1. After being dismissed for 191, South Africa now lead in the game by 149 runs, which is huge considering the way Sri Lanka have batted in the first innings. 

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