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South Africa vs Sri Lanka, Test series: Visitors’ marks out of 10

Sri Lanka suffered an embarrassing 0-3 whitewash against South Africa. To be precise, Sri Lanka lost sixteen wickets in three sessions to suffer this shambolic defeat.

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To highlight the Sri Lankan struggle, only three of their batsmen could cross the fifty run mark in the entire series © Getty Images

Sri Lanka suffered an embarrassing 0-3 whitewash against South Africa. To be precise, Sri Lanka lost sixteen wickets in three sessions to suffer this shambolic defeat. They never looked to be in the game throughout the series and were completely undone by Faf du Plessis and co. Sri Lanka were first bowled out for 131 in the first innings of the final Test, as Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada took 3 wickets each which was followed by an enforced follow-on. It was expected that they would put at least some fight to delay the defeat. But Wayne Parnell and debutant Duanne Olivier took 4 and 3 wickets each in the second innings to complete a comprehensive victory by an innings and 118 runs.

To highlight the Sri Lankan struggle, only three of their batsmen could cross the fifty run mark in the entire series; such was the scenario throughout the three-Test series. Their spin department could not adjust to the alien wickets, their seamers initially posed serious threat to the Proteas but lacked the quality to consistently dominate all the sessions. The series started with visitors losing the first Test by 206 runs. South Africa were first bowled out for 286; courtesy Suranga Lakmal’s 5-for. But Vernon Philander (5 for 45) went all guns blazing to dismantle the tourists for 205 that was followed by a stunning hundred from Dean Elgar which took the game away.

Full Cricket Scorecard: South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test at Johannesburg

Somewhat similar situation was seen in Cape Town wherein Lahiru Kumara took 6 wickets to stop the hosts at 392, but Sri Lankan batting failed yet again which handed du Plessis and his men a series victory.

The Sri Lankan batting is solely responsible for this defeat as their bowling department was on-target every time they could. So based on these performances, let’s try rating the depleted Sri Lanka side in their batting order:

Dimuth Karunaratne (3.5/10): His time on the crease can hardly be recalled except for the second innings fifty at Johannesburg. It was one of the three fifties that was scored. All he managed was 128 runs in the series at 21.33. He was far from consistency and it has been a while he has done something for the side. His 50 in the final innings may have just saved him but needs to score runs or face the axe.

Kaushal Silva (3/10): Scores of 16, 48, 11, 29, 13 and 0 are enough to tell how this tour panned out for Silva. He faced problems particularly with short deliveries. Unfortunately his stay at the crease were so limited that his other weaknesses did not come into fore.

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Kusal Mendis (5/10): Second of the three Sri Lankan batsmen to breach the fifty-run mark and also the second highest run-scorer for visitors with 138 runs. He played a well-constructed knock in the second innings (58) in Port Elizabeth after scoring a duck in the first. He has the natural ability to drive the ball elegantly, play cracking hook shots inclusive of some beautiful drives.

He is just 21, and has a lot to offer. But he needs to get immune to playing in foreign conditions. He is a safe bet behind the stumps and one of the best moments for him was when he took the athletic leg-side catch at Wanderers.

Angelo Mathews (5/10): He may be the highest run-getter for his team but 178 runs from 6 innings at an average of 29.66 is not the Mathews Sri Lanka want. Not with the bat, ball or even his captaincy, he was dismal. Nothing went his or his teams’ way and none of his tactics worked. What surprised more from the skipper was that despite his team struggling against the outgoing deliveries from the South Africa pacers, he still would try poking his bat at them eventually to lose his wicket. Moreover, with the ball he got just 2 wickets at 64.50. Also the third and the last of the three Sri Lankan to score a fifty!

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Dhanajaya de Silva (5/10): Got off to good starts almost every time. 43, 22, 16, 22, 10 and 12 read his scores from all the six innings respectively. He was promoted up the order to bat in the last two games and that is what hampered his batting, otherwise he was good.

When entrusted with the ball, he was decent with his off-spin. With just 125 runs under his belt this series at average of 20.83, de Silva needs to perform as he is a proven capable player.

Dinesh Chandimal (3/10): After a decent series at home against Australia, much was expected from the experienced Chandimal. He is thought to be the next Sri Lankan superstar but his performance against South Africa was abysmal. He had the responsibility of emulating de Kock, but Chandimal’s (14.16) batting average was less than Proteas pacer Vernon Philander’s (16). He kept the wickets and did not excel in that role either.

Sri Lankan cricket relies a lot on him and he will be expected to come good soon

Rangana Herath (3/10): He was supposed to get a lot of help from the Port Elizabeth wicket, but the stalwart was far from being his usual. He managed to get just 6 wickets in the entire innings at 48. It is definitely not the Herath we saw against Australia who would manage to take 6 or more wickets in an innings.

Lahiru Kumara (8/10): There were only two positives that Sri Lanka can take from this series defeat. Lahiru is one of them. Sri Lanka have discovered a bowler of real potential. Has the option of bowling good bouncers, excellent inswing and sometimes a little away-movement off the seam. Got 11 wickets from 3 innings at 26.45.

The young man was better that any other Sri Lanka bowler. He is a bowler of immense potential and has a lot to offer.

Suranga Lakmal (8/10): Off the two positives for Sri Lanka, Lakmal is the second after Kumara. This series came as a comeback for Suranga who at one point was out of contention. His first five-wicket haul in Port Elizabeth started off the things well for visitors. He changed his bowling action and the got the ball to swing and seam extra. There were numerous chances spilled off his bowling, but still managed to pick 12 wickets in the series to top the wicket taking chart for the visitors.

Nuwan Pradeep (6/10): Nuwan Pradeep’s best came in the last Test when he got 4 wickets, and those 4 wickets stopped the hosts from piling 500-plus runs. His 4 wickets accounted of Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma and Vernon Philander and that too in space of 18 deliveries conceding just a single. But prior to this, his case was a forgetful one.

Upul Tharanga (5/10): An opener by ability, Tharanga was asked to bat at No. 7. He struggled to adjust to this position yet scored some runs, but not much that could save his teams drubbing. The experienced southpaw managed 88 runs at 29.33. There are chances that he may be given the chance to open the innings in forthcoming tours given the way the current openers played.

Dushmantha Chameera and Kusal Perera (2/10): Nothing much to mention about these two. Played one game each and Chameera got just a wicket while Kusal Perera scored 13 runs. What do I even say! Stats suffice!

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