Petersen’s laboured stay, Quinton de Kock, promoted in the second innings has looked positive and has looked to score runs freely. Bad Light stops play yet again now!
Sri Lankans have their first wicket and it is their talisman Rangana Herath. Petersen’s long, laboured misery has come to an end. South Africa have gone ultra defensive and they have paid the price for it. Vithanage takes a sharp take at silly point.
A Petersen c Vithanage b Herath 0(25)
Sri Lankans have declared at 229 for eight. Rangana Herath is dismissed by Morne Morkel, picking up his fourth wicket. South Africa need to chase down 369 in 128 overs.
R Herath c De Villiers b Morkel 4(11)
Sri Lanka lose yet another wicket in their pursuit of quick runs. Going for a big heave, Perera is bowled by Imran Tahir. As always he is cock-a-hoop despite his team’s prospects not looking good. Meanwhile Anglo Mathews has brought up his fifty. Yet another half-century as captain and its another knock of brute force and construction.
D Perera b Tahir 7(7)
Angelo Mathews is hitting the ball and huge cheers went around the stadium when Sri Lanka bought their 200 up. The lead is now crawling towards 350 now. New man Dickwella is also looking to take quick runs and has departed trying to hook Dale Steyn’s bouncer.
N Dickwella c De Villiers b Steyn 16(21)
Sri Lanka are losing wickets after deciding to go after quick runs. have lost a quick wickets. firs sanga and now Vithanage skies the ball in the air and Faf du Plessis takes an excellent catch at short third-a
OUT! K Vithanage c Elgar b morkel 7&)
After play resumed after the rain delay, Sri Lankans have been in a punishing mood. The lead is closing in on 300 now and it is largely due to Kumar Sangakkara going after the bowling and picking the gaps at utmost ease. Sanga crossed his fifty and gorged on part-timers Duminy and Elgar. Mathews looked settled and smashed a six of Morne Morkel over mid-wicket. Morkel comes back beautifully to dismiss Sangakkara,
Sri Lanka, despite losing three wickets old fort at Lunch. Sangakkara is still nodding his head in the manner in which his good mate Jayawardene was dismissed. Sri Lanka lead by 247 and are in the box seat.
Another one goes and it is the emperor of SSC, Mahela Jayawardene. South Africa are cock a hoop but it is slightly controversial.Mahela tries playing a sweep, the ball shades the batsman’s top part of the glove and Elgar takes a fine diving catch, diving on and over the onrushing Quinton de Kock. Mahela refers the decision. After nearly five minutes of deliberation, Nigel Llong raises his finger.
Morne Morkel strikes for South Africa. The lanky pacer set this wicket up beautifully. Silva cut and pulled the bowler for two consecutive boundaries in Morkel’s previous over. Silva is deceived by the slower delivery and Philander pounces on it at gully. Much needed wicket for South Africa.
OUT! K Silva c Philander b Morkel 26(57)
Only twice teams have won a Test match while chasing targets of 300+ in Sri Lanka 352/9 SL bt SA PSS 2006 326/5 SL bt Zim SSC 1998 #SLvSA
Kumar Sangakkara wasted no time in getting off the blocks and seldom does he twice miss out in a Test match. Not the least in 2014. Leggie Imran Tahir was brought in by Amla for a few overs and Sangakkara played some lovey drives and late cuts. Luck has also not been on South Africa’s side as edges have been flying to the boundary ropes. Kaushal Silva is bent on scrapping away.
South Africa draw first blood. Upul Tharanga departs after a rather breezy stay at the crease. After a fuller line by the Protea pacers were dealt with ease by the southpaw, the bowlers switched to a good length line. Philander bowled a beautiful over to Silva and the flashy Tharanga ended up nicking it to wicketkeeper De Kock and Steyn it is. Kumar Sangakkara has avoided a king pair and played a glorious cover drive.
OUT!U Tharanga c De Kock b Steyn 30(40)
The first ball of the day from Vernon Philander was stroked down the ground for a boundary. He later cut the ball through extra cover for another four. Philander went for a couple of more boundaries from the southpaw’s blade. The Lankans have made a blazing start and Tharanga has been on the forefront of it. Meanwhile South Africa had a half chance which fell short of Hashim Amla at first slip. Quinton de Kock should have done better on that occasion though.
Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s coverage of the fourth day’s play between Sri Lanka and South Africa at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), Colombo. It has been a Test match where the hosts have dominated and taken control after losing at Galle. Hashim Amla scored a cool and calm ton even as the Sri Lankan spinners caused the other some problems. A total of nine out of the ten South African wickets were taken by the spinners, with Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera combining to form a good partnership. In the second innings, Sri Lanka are 11 for no loss and are 150 runs ahead with two days to go. It is their Test match and they have to set-up a huge score for South Africa to chase.
I am R Vishal and will take you through this game. South Africa would hope to limit the damage and restrict Sri Lanka to a gettable score. Or, they would even go for a draw in case it is out of their reach. For now, it is their bowlers who are under pressure and have to ensure that it doesn’t become a largely Sri Lankan affair on Day Four.
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