A lively pitch on the opening two days, which contributed to Sri Lanka’s record low test score of 42 in their first innings, turned flat and docile under the baking sun on Friday as the bowlers toiled, even after taking the second new ball.
Kingsmead, DURBAN – South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs and captain Temba Bavuma scored centuries as the hosts built an imposing lead of 515 over Sri Lanka at tea in their second innings on the third day of the first Test on Friday.
South Africa were 366/5 after the second session of the day with Bavuma out to the last ball before tea when he was trapped leg before wicket to Asitha Fernando for 113.
Bavuma and Stubbs put on 249 for the fourth wicket, taking the overnight score from 132/3 to 338 before Stubbs was bowled by Vishwa Fernando for 122.
Stubbs brought up his second Test ton in 183 balls followed not long after by the 34-year-old Bavuma, who took 202 balls.
Day 3 | Stumps 🟢🟡
The day belonged to the Proteas, with a dominating batting performance, and our bowlers taking crucial wickets!😮💨🏏
🇿🇦South Africa: 191/10 (1st Innings)
🇱🇰Sri Lanka: 42/10 (1st Innings)
🇿🇦South Africa: 366/5 (2nd Innings – declared)
🇱🇰Sri Lanka: 103/5 (2nd… pic.twitter.com/xzlvX8qMhH— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) November 29, 2024
It was only a third century in Bavuma’s 60th Test match after developing a reputation for his inability to convert half centuries but this time he was a study in determination as South Africa manoeuvred into a match-winning position.
Bavuma, who has scored 23 Test 50s, returned to the line-up from an elbow injury after missing the two-Test series win in Bangladesh last month.
A lively pitch on the opening two days, which contributed to Sri Lanka’s record low test score of 42 in their first innings, turned flat and docile under the baking sun on Friday as the bowlers toiled, even after taking the second new ball.
Nineteen wickets fell on a drama-filled second day on Thursday, but Stubbs and Bavuma were the only South African batters to be dismissed on Friday.
Stubbs was handed a lifeline when first slip Angelo Mathews spilled a nick from Stubbs off Vishwa Fernando when the South African was on 33.
He was also given out leg before wicket on 102 but successfully reviewed the umpire’s decision with the delivery from Lahiru Kumara outside the line and missing the stumps.
With rain possible on the last day on Sunday, South Africa put Sri Lanka in to bat, leaving themselves plenty of time to get the 10 wickets needed for victory.
• At stumps the Proteas bowlers had made healthy inroads into the Sri Lankan batting line-up, leaving the visitors reeling at 103/5.
Marco Jansen (2/22) and Kagiso Rabada (2/34) made life difficult for the Sri Lankan top and middle order with none of them getting to 30. However, on a slightly positive note for the visitors, No.3 batsman Lokuge Chandimal is still not out on 29.
But the Sri Lankans have a mountain to climb over the next two days … if they get that far, that is.
The second Test is in Gqeberha, starting next Thursday.
Reuters
• Additional reporting by Lance Fredericks
