Published: Dec 26, 2016, 06:31 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 26, 2016, 06:38 PM (IST)
Second session started on a poor note for South Africa, as they could not convert a solid start against Sri Lanka in the first Test at Port Elizabeth. Sri Lankan pacer Suranga Lakmal brought his team back in the match picking up crucial wickets in succession. However, JP Duminy counterattacked his opponents and brought South Africa ‘s score to normalcy. South Africa going into tea on Day One were 174 for 2 with Duminy and Hashim Amla in the middle.
Dean Elgar and Stephen Cook could not make use of their solid start. Sri Lanka started the session with Rangana Herath, Angelo Mathews and Suranga Lakmal bowling in tandem with short breaks. With absolutely no assistance from the wicket all three looked very negotiable. Lakmal after having a good first session produced a peach of a delivery to get the wicket of Stephen Cook. Cook trying to play across the line ended up handing wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal a simple catch for 59 runs.
Live Cricket Scorecard, South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test at Port Elizabeth
Out came South Africa’s most dependable batsman Hashim Amla at No.3. Amla did not have the best of Australian series, making just 98 runs from three-Tests.
Amla finally got off the mark after facing 23 deliveries.
Elgar, who looked in line to achieve his fourth half-century, departed for 45 runs. Lakmal after picking Cook’s wicket used his angles’ and length to good result. Elgar poked away from his body and paid a heavy price as the ball nicked his edge and went straight into the gloves of a diving Dinesh Chandimal.
Duminy came out in the middle as opposed to regular No.4 Faf du Plessis. In contrast to Amla, who looked nervous, Duminy displayed fluency in his play striking boundaries at force whenever opportunity aroused.
Duminy continued his free flowing cricket, driving Dushmantha Chameera for one boundary after boundary, straight down the wicket on multiple occasions.
Amla, on the other hand, projected anxious vibes in the middle, hitting his first boundary only after 55 balls. Duminy along with Amla constructed a 69-run stand for the third wicket of which the former contributed the maximum.
Duminy and Amla remained unbeaten on 46 and 18 runs respectively as South Africa took tea at 174 for 2 on Day One.
Brief scores:
South Africa 174 for 2 (Dean Elgar 45, Stephen Cook 59; Suranga Lakmal 2 for 30) vs Sri Lanka.
