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South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test at Johannesburg: Hashim Amla’s rare achievement, JP Duminy’s 155, South Africa’s blinders and other highlights

Some of the best catches for South Africa, along with some stringent bowling spells, are highlights from the third and the final Test:

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Faf du Plessis win the trophy after series win © Getty Images
Faf du Plessis win the trophy after series win © Getty Images

South Africa thumped Sri Lanka by an innings and 118 runs in the third and final Test at Johannesburg to complete a 3-0 whitewash. Pacer Wayne Parnell took a four-for in the second innings to bundle out South Africa for 177 in the second innings. Parnell was well supported by debutant Duanne Olivier, who took 3 wickets. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan opener Dimuth Karunaratne played a resilient knock of 50 to bring up his 11th Test fifty. It was only Karunaratne who looked comfortable playing against South Africa’s quality pace attack, while other Sri Lankan batsmen struggled.

Some of the best catches for South Africa, along with some stringent bowling spells, are highlights from the third and the final Test:

Hashim Amla’s 100 in 100th: Before the third Test, Amla averaged a mere 24. When he came out to bat, he looked anxious. But as the game progressed, he found his feet. He had three scores in the 40s since Australia tour and had not scored a fifty since August. However, every time Amla looked tentative, Duminy would walk up to him and ensure his experienced teammate did not give it away. In the final session of Day One, Amla, using his feet, chipped one over Herath to bring up his 26th Test ton in style. At the close of Day One, he was on 125 and had done his work. On Day Two, he could add only more 9 runs to his overnight score.

Full Cricket Scorecard and ball by ball commentary: South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test at Johannesburg

JP Duminy’s whack: Duminy was promoted up the order, ahead of Faf du Plessis. In the process, he scored a stunning 155, later being awarded Man of the Match for his 9th hundred. There were free-flowing drives, calculated late-cuts and apt use of the feet against Rangana Herath. Duminy’s knock came at a strike rate of over 70. He fell in the penultimate over of Day One, after adding a record 292 with Amla.

Nuwan Pradeep makes full use of the conditions: Amidst the South African domination, Pradeep played a vital role in reducing the hosts to a total of 426. However, Pradeep was wicketless when South Africa were four-down. The hosts had lost their top order but were still going strong, courtesy 292-run stand between Amla and Duminy. Mathews handed the ball to Pradeep, and the bowler justified his captain’s trust, getting the important wickets of centurion Amla, skipper du Plessis, Temba Bavuma and Philander.

Rabada’s father makes a guest appearance: It was yet another moment of the match and just another wicket for Kagiso Rabada. Towards the end of Day Two, Rabada dismissed Kusal Mendis with an absolute jaffa. Before the batsmen could understand the whereabouts of the delivery, it had nestled in the hands of Duminy in the slip cordon. The host team enjoyed the wicket, but there was one person who enjoyed this wicket more than anyone else. It was Kagiso’s suited-and-booted father in the stands, celebrating his son’s success.

Absolute blinders: The hosts were already dominating the proceeding with their bowlers rattling the visitors to every extent. But amidst all this, the Proteas skipper took a blinder of a catch to dismiss his counterpart, Mathews. Olivier banged in short which Mathews tried slogging with a cross-batted shot. The ball took the top edge and was flying above Faf at second slip. But Faf soared high and timed his jump to perfection to clinch the ball with one hand. If this was not enough, Duminy took another one at deep backward point running behind. Parnell banged in short and Tharanga tried to go for a glory shot but instead got the top edge which Duminy who was standing at slip cordon, turned, gave chase, running fully 20 yards before launching a full-length dive to end a combative stand!

Wayne Parnell’s thunder: Rabada and Philander had rocked the Sri Lankans in the first innings, and it appeared that they would dominate the proceedings in the second innings too. Rightly so, Rabada was successful in getting Kaushal Silva’s wicket off his very first delivery. But then, Parnell came took the centre stage and skittled out the tourists. Parnell was bang on target, getting the ball to swing both ways. He tormented majority of the batsmen with short deliveries, eventually getting 4 wickets conceding just 51 runs.

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