Published: Jan 04, 2017, 07:06 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 04, 2017, 07:06 PM (IST)
South Africa declared their second innings at 224 for 7, with a lead of 506 runs, half-an-hour before tea on Day Three, thus setting Sri Lanka 507 to win the Cape Town Test with 7 more sessions to go. In reply, Sri Lanka scored 17 for 1 before tea was taken, losing opener Dimuth Karunaratne for 5. The southpaw was undone by an in-swinger from Vernon Philander, which took a thick edge off his bat and uprooted his leg-stump. Kaushal Silva (7*) and Kusal Mendis (4*) will have an uphill task in front of them when they return after tea.
Earlier, the South African charge was once again led by Dean Elgar, who scored his 5th Test fifty. His innings was well supported by skipper Faf du Plessis (41), and Stephen Cook and JP Duminy, scoring 30 each. Quinton de Kock scored a quick 29 before the lower-order blitz took the lead past 500. For Sri Lanka, Suranga Lakmal picked 4 wickets, while Rangana Herath and Lahiru Kumara took a wicket each. The one remaining wicket was a run out affected by a direct hit from Dhananjaya de Silva. The Lankan openers have two and half days to chase the total.
Full Cricket Scorecard, South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test at Cape Town
Sri Lankan bowlers backed up their good effort of the first session by bowling well post-lunch as well. The team showed hunger to pick wickets, and it, too, was evident in their fielding effort. Immediately after lunch, Bavuma was sent back for naught through a brilliant direct hit by de Silva. Bavuma, who was unfortunate, got the dose of his own medicine. He played Herath’s delivery towards mid-off and sprinted for a single. In anticipation of a throw, he dived early, which forced his bat to lift in the air after hitting the ground. His poor run in the series continued, as he has failed to get into the double digits in so far.
Bavuma was replaced by de Kock, who made his intentions clear straightaway. The attacking batsman played his shots and collected some quick runs. He added 33 runs off 32 balls with du Plessis, before the captain fell for 41. De Kock hit a few fours but perished for 29 off 24 balls. Keshav Maharaj (20*) and Philander (15*) then added unbeaten 32 runs for the 8th wicket. The declaration came when Philander hit Lakmal for consecutive boundaries, taking the lead to 506.
Earlier, the South African openers began Day Three from their overnight score of 35 for no-loss. Soon Elgar and Cook put up yet another fifty-run opening stand — their third in the series after hundred-plus stands in both the innings of the first Test. The duo kept the scoreboard ticking by taking singles coupled with occasional boundaries. Lakmal then delivered the breakthrough with his double-wicket maiden, removing both Cook and Hashim Amla.
Duminy then joined Elgar, who continued with his good form to bring up yet another half-century — fifth of his Test career. Two of them added 46 runs for the third wicket before Herath dismissed Elgar for 55. Duminy fell at the stroke of lunch, as he was trapped in front of the stumps by Lakmal for 30.
Brief scores:
South Africa 392 (Dean Elgar 129, Quinton de Kock 101; Lahiru Kumara 6 for 122) and 224 for 7 dec. (Dean Elgar 55, Faf du Plessis 41; Suranga Lakmal 4 for 69) lead Sri Lanka 110 (Dimuth Karunaratne 24*, Kaushal Silva 11, Kusal Mendis 11; Keshav Maharaj 1 for 7, Kagiso Rabada 1 for 23) and 17 for 1 (Kaushal Silva 7*, Kusal Mendis 4*; Vernon Philander 1 for 10) by 490 runs
