South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test: Hosts lose Faf du Plessis but Dean Elgar keeps them slightly ahead

Elgar, who kept on losing his partners at the other end, stood tall and ensured his team was in a better position on a relatively difficult batting track.

Opener Dean Elgar continued with his impressive form in the second Test at Cape Town against Sri Lanka when he guided his team to 147 for 4 at tea on Day Two. Elgar, who kept on losing his partners at the other end, stood tall and ensured his team was in a better position on a relatively difficult batting track. Apart from him, captain Faf du Plessis (38) and Hashim Amla (29) also contributed to the team score and stitched fifty-run stands for the fourth and third wicket respectively. For Sri Lanka, Lahiru Kumara picked two wickets while Suranga Lakmal and Rangana Herath picked up a wicket each. At tea, Elgar was unbeaten along with middle-order batsman Temba Bavuma.

Lakmal and Kumara, the two successful bowlers from the first session of day’s play, started off the proceedings after the lunch break. Both the bowlers, however, lacked the discipline they showed in the morning session and it allowed the South African duo of Elgar and du Plessis to start confidently. Both the batsmen, who continued from 69 for 3 post-lunch, hit boundaries in the first two overs of the second session and set the tone for a big partnership. Angelo Mathews kept shuffling his pacers including himself, but for some reason, kept his chief weapon Herath away from the attack.

FULL CRICKET SCORECARD, SOUTH AFRICA VS SRI LANKA, 2nd TEST, CAPE TOWN

The frequent changes though did not bother the duo, as an unfazed Elgar continued his good form and reached to his fifth Test half-century with a boundary off Nuwan Pradeep’s bowling in the 32nd over of the day. Pradeep did exert some pressure from one end by bowling a testing line to du Plessis, but he was guilty of releasing it himself with an odd loose delivery in between, which du Plessis sent towards the boundary. Both Elgar and du Plessis showed great temperament, as they patiently waited for the scoring deliveries and kept defending the ones that demanded respect.

At drinks, South Africa were 110 for 3. The runs were not coming fast, but it did not matter. Sri Lankan bowlers though kept the runs in check, but failed to bowl wicket-inducing balls. With no wicket coming in the first hour post-lunch, Mathews finally turned towards Herath in the 42nd over of the day. But Elgar and du Plessis continued to march ahead in an unperturbed manner. Elgar pulled Kumara through mid-wicket for an exquisite boundary in the very next over. With every scoring shot the southpaw played, he was underlining the fact how valuable a player he has become for South Africa.

Herath, who had dismissed du Plessis twice in the three matches they had played against each other before this match, came closer to dismissing him in the 48th over, when the South African captain offered a simple catch to Upul Tharanga at mid-off. But Tharanga dropped the sitter, thus flushing down whatever pressure Herath had created, down the drain.

Du Plessis’ dropped catch however cost Sri Lanka just 7 runs, as Herath finally got his man for 38. The South African captain edged one from Herath and offered an easy catch to his opposite number at slip. Du Plessis scored 38 and added crucial 76 runs for the fourth wicket with Elgar, who continued to frustrate the Lankans. He was joined by Bavuma and the two of them took South Africa safely to tea with the score reading 147 for 4.

Earlier, Sri Lankan captain Mathews won the toss and fielded on a wicket that had lot of grass. The fact that there was a cloud cover at Cape Town also influenced his decision. His bowlers did not disappoint him, as they made the most of the helpful conditions by bowling a tight and probing line. Lakmal removed Stephen Cook for naught as Sri Lanka built pressure early on. But seasoned campaigner Amla and in-form Elgar saw through the difficult first hour by adding 66 runs for the second wicket.

But teenage bowler Kumara got rid of Amla and JP Duminy in quick succession to reduce South Africa to 66 for 3. Elgar and du Plessis then guided the hosts to lunch without any further damage but Kumara’s strikes had set up an exciting second session. For now, the game is evenly poised with all eyes on the final session of the day, which will determine who takes the Day One honours.

Brief Scores: South Africa 147 for 4 (Dean Elgar 76*, Faf du Plessis 38; Lahiru Kumara 2 for 38, Rangana Herath 1 for 9) vs Sri Lanka.

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