| 1.1 : 1.1: D Steyn to D Karunaratne, FOUR! Edgy! It's fuller in length and around off, Karunaratne with a tentative front foot movement tries playing with a straight bat but it takes the outside edge and speeds through slips and gully for a boundary. |
| 4.1: V Philander to Gunathilaka, FOUR! Gunathilaka takes the off stump guard now rather than middle and leg as Philander switches to 'round the wicket. He sprays a full ball down the leg side and Danushka flicks it uppishly through square leg for a boundary. |
| 6.1: V Philander to Gunathilaka, FOUR! Eased away! Philander errs in line and bowls it a bit short around middle and leg. Gunathilaka stands back inside the crease and glances it off his hips to the fine leg fence. |
| 6.2 : 6.2: V Philander to Gunathilaka, FOUR! This is very poor bowling from Philander. Not getting his line right. Bowls it wide outside off, on a length, Gunathilaka smashes it off his back foot through cover-point and this time the ball trickles past the rope. |
| 9.2: D Steyn to Karunaratne, SIX! Nearly fell to the plan though, Dimuth. Steyn digs in a short delivery with two fielders back in the deep on the leg side. Karunaratne still wheels a pull shot and gets good enough connection to clear the rope at backward square leg. South Africa won't mind that much, if he keeps playing his shots. |
| 10.2: K Rabada to D Gunathilaka, FOUR! Poor fielding at mid on. A fractionally short of a length delivery on off, Gunathilaka drags his pull shot from the front foot and it races off the inside half of the bat. Philander is lazy in putting a dive and does so after the ball has gone past him. A boundary results. |
| 10.4 : 10.4: K Rabada to Gunathilaka, OUT! Gone! Doesn't matter if there is life or not in the pitch, Rabada will get something going for him. Such is his class. Serves a good length delivery outside off and extracts some extra bounce. Gunathilaka is back footed as he tries to punch it through the line. But the ball reaches high on his bat, kisses the outside edge and de Kock grabs it with ease. Rabada is ecstatic as he celebrates with his teammates. The umpire after raising his finger quickly checks f |
| 13.1 : 13.1: K Rabada to Karunaratne, FOUR! Serves it on a back of a length outside off, Gunathilaka stands tall and punches it square of the wicket on the off side. If it's chase from a fielder, it has to be Maharaj today. Seems to have taken a contract for that. Although, this time the ball wins the race to the fence. The outfield is getting quickened up probably with the sun coming down. 50 comes up for Sri Lanka. |
| 13.4 : 13.4: K Rabada to Karunaratne, FOUR! Streaky. Karunaratne had no idea how and where it went. Rabada angles in a good length ball around off, straightening a touch with extra bounce, Karunaratne stays back to defend but it takes the splice of his bat and hurries past the slip cordon for a boundary. |
| 14.2 : 14.2: K Maharaj to Silva, FOUR! Fine footwork by Dhananjaya. Gives himself room by staying leg side to this delivery and then dances down the track to loft it with the spin over extra cover. Catch it is the shout but it goes well wide of the long off fielder. A boundary. |
| 20.4 : 20.4: Shamsi to de Silva, OUT! Through the gate! Shamsi is delighted and runs in joy. Brilliant delivery. Generously tossed up just outside off, landing on a fuller length, de Silva tries to drive it through covers but it spins back in big time, beats the inside part of the bat and hits the top of off stump. Dhananjaya has a surprised look on his face, smiles a bit before leaving the ground. So much turn on this delivery, alarming for South Africa also as Sri Lanka possess three quality spinners |
| 21.5 : 21.5: K Maharaj to Mendis, FOUR! Loopy delivery spinning down the leg side, Mendis gets down on one knee to play the sweep shot but fails to make proper connection. It beats de Kock behind the stumps and races away to the fine leg fence. The umpire signals it as runs and the replays pick a bit of Mendis' gloves. Hmm... not a convincing way to reach the milestone but still a big achievement. 2000 Test runs for Kusal! |
| 24.1 : 24.1: T Shamsi to Mendis, FOUR! Shamsi drags his length short and it's going down the leg side. Mendis gets back to pull and in spite of it staying low, he puts it away through backward square leg for a boundary. |
| 25.6 : 25.6: K Maharaj to Mendis, FOUR! Some starter before Lunch by Maharaj (In India a cook is called a maharaj)! Friendly full toss on off, Mendis kneels and nails his sweep shot through mid-wicket for a boundary. The umpire takes the bails off and the players are leaving the field. LUNCH ON DAY 1! |
| 27.3 : 27.3: D Steyn to Karunaratne, FOUR! Serves it full and outside off, Karunaratne pushes at it with firm hands and places it through the gap between gully and backward point for a boundary. |
| 27.5 : 27.5: D Steyn to Karunaratne, FOUR! Off the gloves, beating the despairing dive from Quinton de Kock. A well-directed short ball by Steyn, Karunaratne tries to pull but it takes his gloves and flies past the diving keeper to the fine leg fence. Dimuth seems to have hurt his fingers but is ready to face the next ball. Maybe, will ask for physio after the over ends. |
| 29.6 : 29.6: D Steyn to Karunaratne, FOUR! Fine, fine shot! A fractionally short of a length delivery outside off, angling away, Karunaratne stands tall inside the crease and pulls it powerfully through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 31.2 : 31.2: D Steyn to Mendis, OUT! Soft dismissal! Steyn strikes and roars in delight. He delivers it on a fuller length around middle, maybe it sticks a bit on the pitch as Mendis is early into the flick shot. Ends up chipping a straightforward catch to Kagiso Rabada at mid on. A nothing shot in the end and it brings the curtains down on Kusal's knock. So, this is the second wicket falling more due to the assistance from the pitch than anything else. Such deliveries usually get whipped through mid-w |
| 35.1 : 35.1: K Rabada to Mathews, OUT! An inspirational bowling change by Faf du Plessis and Kagiso Rabada has nipped out Angelo Mathews. He bowls it on a length around off, Angelo is stuck inside the crease as he tries playing at it with an angled bat. Very unsure from the former Lankan skipper as he nicks it behind for Quinton de Kock. A very simple catch for the Protea keeper and Rabada has two. |
| 35.3 : 35.3: K Rabada to R Silva, OUT! Rabada is a special, special bowler. An effort delivery by him. He bends his back and lets out a roaring rising delivery around off. Roshen has never seen the ball jumping on so much in Sri Lanka. He is caught in an awkward position as he goes on his toes to fend at it. The ball takes the splice of his bat and loops towards short leg. Markram is alert there and stretches low to his right to take the catch safely. Rabada smiles, third scalp for him. |
| 37.6 : 37.6: K Rabada to Karunaratne, FOUR! Easy pickings! Rabada errs in his line and slips a full ball down the leg side, Karunaratne neatly deflects it off his pads to the fine leg fence. |
| 46.2 : 46.2: T Shamsi to N Dickwella, OUT! This was always on the cards with the ball spinning away from the southpaw. Shamsi tosses it up nicely and lands it full around off. Dickwella gets half-forward to defend but it turns away to catch the outside edge. Amla makes no mistake at first slip and the 42-run association has been broken. Brilliant bowling by the chinaman, he has been on song with his line and length, which is so unlike a wrist spinner. For Niroshan, it's a case of yet another start not |
| 47.1 : 47.1: V Philander to Perera, OUT! My word - what was that from de Kock? Almost like a net session! |
| 50.1: T Shamsi to Karunaratne, FOUR! CLOUT! Very rarely does one use such words for Karunaratne. But he seems to have realized that the scoreboard is not moving and someone has got to do something about it - better be the set man. Full and on off, Dimuth gets down and mows it over mid-wicket for a boundary! |
| 50.3 : 50.3: T Shamsi to Karunaratne, OUT! Gone by more than a yard. Poor Herath. Dimuth came down the track and whipped it wide of mid on. The striker had come halfway down the track for the single. Herath meanwhile, was ball watching and started to run after he saw Dimuth halfway down. Now Karunaratne stopped but then continued to run. Herath started his locomotor but after Philander got to the ball. All the fielder had to do was pick up and throw to the keeper who did the rest. Herath put in a dive |
| 52.6 : 52.6: T Shamsi to S Lakmal, FOUR! Glorious shot! A full ball outside off, Lakmal leans and drives it wide of mid off for a boundary! |
| 54.3 : 54.3: T Shamsi to Karunaratne, FOUR! 8th century for Karunaratne in Tests, his 4th 50-plus score in his last 5 innings batting first! Nice way to get it too. Comes down the track, takes the ball on the full and drives it straight down the ground for a boundary! The dressing room is standing tall and applauding. The two batsmen in the middle hug each other. Reason to smile, yes. But now, the Lankans need to think about getting some sort of a decent first innings score. |
| 54.4 : 54.4: T Shamsi to Karunaratne, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries. A tad short, around off, spinning in, Karunaratne just helps it through square leg. |
| 62.4: K Rabada to Lakmal, OUT! That is a nasty delivery. A short ball, on middle and leg, Lakmal looks to tuck but the ball goes off his gloves and lobs straight up in the air. The Lankan skipper has no idea where the ball is but the people beside him have good idea. Quinton de Kock comes forward and takes the catch. Someone must have appealed because the umpire's finger went up. All I could see was only celebration. The 5-fer for Rabada still on. A useful stand of 48 has been broken. |
| 65.5 : 65.5: D Steyn to Karunaratne, FOUR! My word, this man can play in this gear as well? News to me. I thought he only participated in blockathons. Comes down the track, stays leg side of the ball, takes it on the half volley and crashes it through the covers for a boundary! The stand is worth 11 now. |
| 67.6 : 67.6: D Steyn to Karunaratne, FOUR! Off the top edge but South Africa will not mind. They wanted Sandakan on strike and they have that now. A short ball, around leg, Karunaratne swivels to pull but gets a top edge which sails over the keeper to the fence behind. The stand is now worth 22. |
| 72.2 : 72.2: T Shamsi to Sandakan, FOUR! Well, he is going for it now. Full and outside off, Sandakan gets down and slogs it over mid-wicket. There is a man in the deep, Dale Steyn, but he cannot get to the ball. The stand is worth 30 now!!! |
| 74.1 : 74.1: T Shamsi to Karunaratne, FOUR! CRACK! 2 short of a 150 now. A short ball, on middle, Karunaratne pulls it over mid-wicket and gets a boundary! |
| 76.2 : 76.2: T Shamsi to Sandakan, FOUR! CRASH! That is some way to bring up the FIRST 50-RUN STAND OF THE INNINGS! Full and outside off, Sandakan puts on his dancing shoes, gets to the pitch of the ball and clobbers it down the ground past mid off for a boundary! Moves to 20 from 47 balls. What a crucial knock. |
| 77.3 : 77.3: D Elgar to Sandakan, FOUR! A long hop, Sandakan backs away and heaves it over mid-wicket for a boundary! |
| 78.4 : 78.4: T Shamsi to Sandakan, OUT! Finally Sri Lanka have been bowled out. Shamsi does a repeat of what he did to Karunaratne a couple of balls ago. Sandakan jumps down the track, Shamsi throws it wide, the batsman has to reach out but misses. Easy stumping for QdK this time. SRI LANKA HAVE MANAGED 287. |
| 2.4 : 2.4: R Herath to A Markram, OUT! South Africa do not survive the day without any damage. Beautifully tossed up outside off, Markram is forced to play at that. The ball lands, generates a puff of dust around that area, kicks off, spins away, takes the outside edge and goes towards first slip. Angelo Mathews at first slip dives to his right and pouches it safely. |
| 6.3 : 6.3: Herath to Maharaj, OUT! LBW! This is a goner. This time Herath is interested and appeals. Up goes the umpire's finger on this occasion. This is the darter on off, Maharaj plays that coming half-forward and pays the price. Is hit on the pads and that is the end of Maharaj. |
| 9.2 : 9.2: D Perera to D Elgar, OUT! It is a catch. Elgar has been given out on the field after a bit of a discussion. The replays seem pretty clear. Full on middle, Elgar looked to flick but got a bit of a leading edge or an outside edge, whichever way you look at it - straight to Angelo Mathews at first slip. The doubt here in the mind of the umpire was whether the ball spun away without hitting the edge because both - ball hitting the edge and the willow hitting the ground - happened instantaneousl |
| 12.4 : 12.4: R Herath to Bavuma, FOUR! Risky but effective. Herath bowls this full and straight, Bavuma gets down and across, reaches out and sweeps it past short fine leg for a boundary. |
| 12.6 : 12.6: R Herath to Bavuma, FOUR! Gets it again! This is more of a paddle shot, getting it through backward square leg. The stand moves to 13 from 22 balls. |
| 13.1 : 13.1: D Perera to Amla, FOUR! Nice shot. Tossed up outside off, Amla comes down the track and lofts it over mid on for a boundary. The deficit is now 257. Amla moves to 10 from 16 balls. His first boundary. |
| 13.4 : 13.4: D Perera to Amla, FOUR! Second one of the over. Flighted outside off, Amla jumps out and lofts it over mid off this time. |
| 17.6 : 17.6: D Perera to Amla, OUT! Massive inside edge. The master of patience is gone. Flighted around off, Amla comes down the track, looking to defend but the ball goes off his pads and lobs in the air. Kusal Mendis comes in from short leg and takes the catch and claims it but umpire Reiffel shakes his head. He immediately signals to Dickwella to go for the review who communicates that to Lakmal who signals the 'T'. Oh boy... massive inside edge from the first replay. Well done, Kusal. South Africa |
| 19.6: D Perera to Plessis, FOUR! Fine shot. Full and around off, Faf gets down and sweeps it uppishly, behind square leg for a boundary. |
| 20.2 : 20.2: L Sandakan to Bavuma, OUT! Dragged on! Half the side is back in the hut. This is turning out to be a sorry, sorry day for the Proteas. Floated outside off, Bavuma looks to sweep, rather slog sweep. He has to reach out a bit for the shot and ends up dragging it onto the stumps. Well, Herath struck in his second over. Dilruwan struck in his 5th. Sandakan has taken just 2 balls to strike. |
| 21.6 : 21.6: Perera to de Kock, OUT! BOWLED! That is a beauty. An off spinner's delight. |
| 28.6: L Sandakan to du Plessis, FOUR! That is a top shot. Thrown up wide outside off, Faf reaches out and drives it through the covers for a rare boundary. |
| 35.5 : 35.5: R Herath to Philander, FOUR! Nice shot. Tossed up outside off, Philander reaches out and drives it through the covers for a boundary. |
| 43.3 : 43.3: D Perera to Plessis, FOUR! 100 UP FOR SOUTH AFRICA! The second 50 has taken 138 balls but it has resulted in lesser number of wickets. Full and outside off, du Plessis gets down and sweeps it through mid-wicket for a boundary. The deficit is now 187. |
| 48.1 : 48.1: S Lakmal to Plessis, FOUR! Du Plessis likes pace. On a length around off, Faf gets on top of the bounce and punches it through the covers for a boundary. The deficit is now 178. Faf has moved to 7 short of a half century. |
| 48.4 : 48.4: S Lakmal to Plessis, EDGED, FOUR! No second slip. Full and wide outside off, Faf is feeling like that child who has been quiet due to his disciplined father and then the moment his father is not in his presence, becomes mischievous. The Protea skipper does not move his feet at all, just throws his bat at it and gets a thick outside edge through the vacant second slip to the third man fence. The stand moves to 62. |
| 49.4: Perera to Philander, OUT! Dilruwan has provided the breakthrough. Don't quite understand the need of that review, unless it has been done in desperation. Or maybe Philander thought that umpire's call could come into play and the review will be saved. But nope. South Africa have lost a wicket and a review. This is pitched around off, Philander stays back to work it to the leg side but the ball drifts in a touch, straightens a touch and hits the batsman plumb in front. Philander does not eve |
| 50.1 : 50.1: S Lakmal to Plessis, OUT! Reverse swing and the captain has been dislodged! Lakmal has not bowled much in this innings but he has chosen to come at a time when the ball has started to reverse. And he is a great exponent of the same. Lands it on a length outside off, du Plessis looks to defend but then the ball comes in a long way, goes right through the gap between bat and pad and BOOM. Hits the top of off. Nothing much that Faf could have done. He held fort at the Galle Fort for so long a |
| 50.2 : 50.2: S Lakmal to D Steyn, FOUR! Streaky. Outside off, on a length, Steyn looks to defend but the ball moves away a touch, takes the outside edge and goes through the vacant second slip region to the third man fence. A strike rate of 400 to begin his innings. The deficit is now 168. |
| 52.6 : 52.6: S Lakmal to Rabada, OUT! Another peach from Lakmal. Too good for Rabada. Comes in from wide of the crease, around the wicket and pitches it well outside off. Rabada looks to defend, thinking that he has covered the line but the ball comes in, goes through the gap between bat and pad and hits the off stump. Not as good a delivery as the one to Faf but a decent nut, enough to go through the defenses of Rabada. |
| 54.3 : 54.3: S Lakmal to D Steyn, OUT! Edged and gone. Who would have thought - Lakmal has 3. Not because he cannot take it - but because at one point of time, we thought he will not bowl at all. On a length outside off, Steyn just swings his bat but only gets an outside edge. Simple catch for Angelo Mathews at first slip who has his third of the inning. SRI LANKA GET A LEAD OF 161!!! |
| 0.1 : 0.1: K Rabada to D Gunathilaka, FOUR! Flashy stroke to get going. On a length, not all that short, outside off, Gunathilaka throws his bat at it and gets it behind point for a boundary. |
| 2.6 : 2.6: K Rabada to Karunaratne, FOUR! Edged away. On a length outside off, Karunaratne pushes at this one and gets a healthy outside edge - but wide of second slip - to the third man fence. |
| 10.3 : 10.3: D Steyn to Karunaratne, FOUR! Eased away! Width on offer outside off, Karunaratne camps back inside the crease and just guides it through backward point for a boundary. |
| 16.4 : 16.4: V Philander to D Karunaratne, FOUR! That's a poor delivery. An overpitched on outside off, Karunaratne offers the full face of the bat and drills it down through mid off for a boundary. |
| 17.5 : 17.5: K Maharaj to Gunathilaka, OUT! Gunathilaka holes out! This is absolutely against the run of play. Keshav tosses this one up in the air and lands it on a fuller length outside off. It curls back in after pitching as Danushka skips down the track for a big shot. He probably wanted to go straight but on the point of impact his bat turns in his hands and he ends up ballooning it towards wide long on. Rabada in the deep runs across to his left and takes the catch safely. Maharaj is all pumped u |
| 19.6 : 19.6: K Maharaj to Silva, SIX! This shot has 'enough is enough' written all over it. Gives the charge to a tossed up delivery around off, reaches the pitch of the ball in a flash and powers it over long on for a biggie. |
| 21.2 : 21.2: Maharaj to de Silva, OUT! Sound of timber! That's a dream delivery. Maharaj is delighted. He produces a gem to dismiss Dhananjaya. Gives this one a good toss in the air and lands it around leg. It spins away from there to square up the batsman in defense and then goes on to kiss the top of off stump. What a sight for any bowler. Maharaj is doing his bit to keep South Africa somewhere in this Test match. De Silva got stuck inside the crease, could have done better with his front foot moveme |
| 21.5 : 21.5: K Maharaj to Mendis, OUT! Mendis is dead in front. Enough part of the ball landed on the leg stump line. Keshav can continue to celebrate. This is the 5th duck bagged by Kusal in Tests, second at this venue. Coming to the delivery, once again Maharaj gives it good air and gets it to spin away. Mendis also is caught napping on the back foot as he misses the ball to get hit on the back pad. They appeal and the finger goes up. Mendis has a clueless look on his face, looks at his partner and t |
| 23.3 : 23.3: K Maharaj to Karunaratne, FOUR! Very well played! Tossed up ball landing outside off, Karunaratne gets across the stumps and plays a well-executed paddle sweep through short fine leg for a boundary. |
| 23.4 : 23.4: K Maharaj to Karunaratne, FOUR! A flighted ball on off, Karunaratne is down the track immediately and drills it back past the bowler for a boundary. He continues his merry way, completely unfazed. |
| 28.1 : 28.1: T Shamsi to Karunaratne, FOUR! Brilliant shot! Shamsi bowls a flighted full ball on off, spinning away after landing, Karunaratne drives it through extra cover for a boundary. |
| 29.3 : 29.3: K Maharaj to Karunaratne, FOUR! Bang! Karunaratne shimmies down the track to a full ball and hammers it past the left side of the extra cover for a boundary. No stopping this one. He has batted particularly well against Maharaj. |
| 32.3: K Rabada to D Karunaratne, OUT! So after 301 balls, South Africa have managed to see the back of Dimuth Karunaratne. Rabada steams in from 'round the wicket and dishes out a back of a length ball outside off. It straightens just a touch after pitching as Karunaratne goes on the back foot to punch it through the line. But it takes a thick outside edge and flies to wide first slip where Amla takes a fine low catch. End of a brilliant, brilliant knock by Dimuth. He has played a big role in st |
| 32.5 : 32.5: K Rabada to R Silva, FOUR! Off the pair in an edgy manner. Rabada pitches it full and around off, Silva gets forward to play at it but it takes the outside edge and screams past the gully fielder for a boundary at third man. |
| 34.6 : 34.6: K Rabada to Mathews, EDGY FOUR! Very loose from Mathews. Throws his bat at a length ball outside off and gets it away off the outside edge. It flies wide of the slip cordon and speeds to the third man fence. 100 up for Sri Lanka with that airy fairy shot. |
| 36.3 : 36.3: T Shamsi to R Silva, Whoa! That missed everything! Beauty by Shamsi. Lets out a loopy full ball around off, fuller in length, Silva gets forward to work it away but it spins back in, beats the inside edge and flies over the stumps to the fence behind. Given as runs. Ohho, nicely spotted by the umpire. The replays confirm the involvement of a thin inside edge. |
| 40.1 : 40.1: Rabada to Mathews, OUT! Gone! A very unfortunate way to get dismissed. Rabada serves a full length ball outside off, Mathews mistimes his drive back towards the bowler off the inner half of his bat. Kagiso gets down low to stop the ball but it brushes his fingers and goes on to hit the stumps at the other end. Silva was backing up way too much and quickly turns to park his bat inside the crease. As soon as it hits the timber, the Proteas go up in a big appeal. The third umpire is referred |
| 42.4 : 42.4: K Rabada to N Dickwella, FOUR! Poor delivery and punished. Rabada continues to drop it short but this time the line is taking it down the leg side. Dickwella just helps it around with the pull shot and finds the fence at fine leg. The fielder in the deep was a bit square and had no chance of cutting it off. |
| 44.2 : 44.2: K Rabada to Dickwella, OUT! The 'round the wicket angle has worked for Rabada. He angles in a length ball from outside off, no movement from the pitch this time as it follows the direction of the bowler's arm. Dickwella with an unsure footwork plays at it and nicks it behind to de Kock. He makes no mistake and South Africa taste second success this morning. |
| 44.4 : 44.4: K Rabada to Perera, OUT! Rabada strikes again. Perera had a bat in his hands but forgot to use it. Kagiso gets some appreciable movement going on this delivery. It lands on a length outside off and nips back in. Perera misreads it and offers no shot after taking his front leg a little forward. It raps him on the back leg, the bend knee, they appeal and the finger goes up. Impact cannot be an issue and the umpire is sure that it has come back in enough to hit the stumps. Dilruwan did have a |
| 49.5 : 49.5: K Maharaj to Mathews, SIX! Fine, fine shot! Opens up the stumps by moving to the leg side and then lofts it with the spin over covers. Lovely connection and it has gone all the way for a maximum. Top shot, Angelo. |
| 51.3 : 51.3: Maharaj to A Mathews, OUT! Bowled 'em! Maharaj gets a four-fer! He tosses this one up in the air and lands it full around middle. It straightens a bit after hitting the deck as Mathews sits down on one knee to play the slog sweep. Misses the ball completely and it goes on to disturb the wooden framework. The last recognized batsman departs with Sri Lanka leading by 317 runs. |
| 52.2 : 52.2: T Shamsi to S Lakmal, FOUR! Very full and on off, spinning back in, Lakmal drills it straight back down the ground for a cracking boundary. Vital runs, taking Sri Lanka's lead towards 350. |
| 52.5 : 52.5: Shamsi to Herath, OUT! Gone! Shamsi finally gets lucky with his appealing. Traps Herath in front. A flighted full ball landing around leg and spinning towards off, Herath goes down on one knee to sweep but misses and is rapped on the back leg. They appeal and the finger goes up this time. Rangana opts for the referral but it turns out to be of no help. The replays confirmed the pitching of the ball to be within the line and it has hit Herath in line as well. The ball is heading for the stu |
| 53.3 : 53.3: K Maharaj to Lakmal, FOUR! Flighted and full on middle, turning in, Lakmal clears his front leg and smashes it over mid on for a boundary. |
| 54.2 : 54.2: T Shamsi to Lakmal, FOUR! Good shot! The skipper continues to add handy runs. Shamsi throws it up wide outside off, Lakmal latches onto it and smacks it past his partner at the other end. The mid off is up and a boundary results. |
| 55.4 : 55.4: K Maharaj to Lakmal, FOUR! Flatter and shorter outside off, Lakmal goes deep inside the crease and plays a cracking square cut. Beats the point fielder for a boundary. |
| 56.1 : 56.1: T Shamsi to Lakmal, FOUR! Lakmal is showing that there is nothing wrong with the pitch. Takes a long stride forward to a full ball outside off and drives it delightfully through extra cover for a boundary. |
| 57.3 : 57.3: D Steyn to Sandakan, FOUR! The lead goes past 350! Back of a length delivery outside off, Sandakan gets back to punch it through the line. Doesn't quite middle it as it travels off the outer half of the bat but right through the gap between gully and point for a boundary. |
| 57.4 : 57.4: D Steyn to Sandakan, OUT! A soft dismissal. Steyn bangs it in short outside off, Sandakan is on his toes as he flays at it. Middles his shot properly but it doesn't have enough elevation to go over the point fielder. Bavuma there makes no mistake and Sri Lanka are all out for 190, setting a daunting target of 352 for the Proteas. Also, this is Steyn's 421st wicket and he equals Shaun Pollock as the all-time highest wicket-taker for South Africa in Tests. |
| 5.6 : 5.6: D Perera to Elgar, OUT! Elgar has a brain explosion and is gone stumped. Very poor from him. He is the one known to bide time in the middle and fight it out. Unexpected, really. Perera tempts him with extra flight. Serves it up and around off, seeing that Dean jumps out of the crease and probably attempts to heave it over the leg side. But he doesn't account for the away spin there. It curls past his bat as he dances down the track and swings his bat and Dickwella behind does the rest. Firs |
| 7.3 : 7.3: D Perera to Amla, OUT! Identical to the way he got out in the first innings. Only difference, this time he walked without waiting for the decision. Fantastic catch as well. Dhananjaya de Silva it is. Perera dishes out a traditional off spinner. He lands it around off, Amla gets forward to defend with his bat in front of his pad. But it turns back in with extra bounce to kiss the inside edge, brushes the pads and loops over short leg. De Silva reacts quickly to his left from leg gully and di |
| 11.4 : 11.4: D Perera to Bavuma, OUT! Perera is bowling fire! Bavuma becomes his third victim. It's just about landing your delivery in the right area. The pitch and the lack of technique of the Protea batsmen will do it for you. A nicely tossed up ball on off, Bavuma should have been forward to this but chooses to stay back as he tries to defend by approaching the ball. First mistake was that he wasn't forward and the second fault was that he was going at the ball rather than allowing it to come at hi |
| 12.1 : 12.1: R Herath to Plessis, OUT! Herath joins the party as well. South Africa in tatters. Their skipper departs now without troubling the scorers much. This is very disappointing. Offering no fight whatsoever. From fight to flight. And it's plenty on this delivery. Herath gives it a good toss and lands it full around off. It spins away after kissing the pitch as du Plessis pushes at it tentatively. More with an angled bat than a straighter one. It catches the outside edge and flies straight into |
| 12.4 : 12.4: R Herath to Kock, FOUR! Attack is the best form of defense, they say. Quinton will follow that phrase. He sits down on one knee and slogs it with the spin over backward square leg for a boundary, first of this innings. |
| 14.2 : 14.2: R Herath to Markram, OUT! Stumped! What are you upto, South Africa? You have made this wicket look like a demon but in reality, there ain't any. More than technique, their temperament is at fault. Markram this time loses his patience. Jumps out of the crease after seeing the flight and then tries to swing it over the leg side. It spins away slightly to beat his blade and Dickwella does the rest. Wasn't to the pitch of the ball at all and the ball spinning away made matters worse for Aiden. |
| 15.1 : 15.1: D Perera to Kock, DROPPED AND FOUR! De Kock plays a full-blooded sweep shot. It leaves his bat like a rocket as short leg ducks to save his life. Herath at backward square leg throws his body defying gravity. Stretches his right hand out but only manages some fingertips over it. It rushes behind and crosses the fence. |
| 15.3 : 15.3: D Perera to Kock, OUT! That has hit him in line and going on to crash the stumps. Perera has his fourth now. He flights this one around off and gets it to skid back into the batsman. De Kock tries sweeping but fails to make any connection. He is rapped on the pads, the finger goes up as soon as the appeal is made. The African keeper though opts for the review but the technology doesn't help him. End seems nigh for the tourists. Will they even survive this session? |
| 17.1 : 17.1: D Perera to Maharaj, FOUR! Flatter and fuller outside off, Maharaj attacks it and hammers it down the ground to long off for a boundary. |
| 17.5 : 17.5: D Perera to Maharaj, FOUR! Boom! Gets it to spin back into the batsman and Maharaj kneels to nail his sweep shot. The short leg fielder once again takes cover immediately to save his face as it screams away to the square leg boundary. |
| 18.4 : 18.4: R Herath to Philander, SIX! Against the run of play. Philander dances down the track and spanks it over long off for a biggie. |
| 19.1 : 19.1: D Perera to Maharaj, OUT! Good catch in the deep by Sandakan. The way it was going, we never thought that a batsman will get out caught in the deep. Everything was happening in the close-in positions. Anyway, Philander tries to attack Perera and hence steps down the track. He swings his bat with the spin, makes decent enough connection and it flies over mid-wicket. Sandakan near the rope settles himself and takes the catch. |
| 21.5 : 21.5: D Perera to Rabada, OUT! Rabada leaves this one and finds his stumps disturbed. Probably, the last delivery was still playing in his mind. It turned away that time but this time Perera bowls his other variation and it skids in with the angle. Rabada offers no shot and it brushes his back pad before making contact with the stumps. |
| 22.5: R Herath to Philander, SIX! Another big shot from Philander's bat. Targets the long on fence, takes a big stride forward and hoists it over long on for a maximum. |
| 24.2 : 24.2: Herath to Steyn, OUT! Caught and bowled! Herath flights it and lands it full on middle, it spins away slightly and Steyn tries to slap it over the bowler's head. Fails to execute his intentions properly and ends up hitting it straight to the bowler. Herath makes no mistake in his followthrough and South Africa are in danger of scoring the lowest every total in Galle. Also, the replay shows that the umpire was in real danger had Herath not caught that ball. |
| 28.5 : 28.5: L Sandakan to Shamsi, OUT! Everything is in line and South Africa's last wicket falls. Sandakan lets out a googly around middle and off. Shamsi fails to read it and is squared up in defense. It goes past his bat and hits him on the back pad. They appeal but the umpire remains still. Sri Lanka opt for the DRS and the Ball Tracker shows three reds. All over, SRI LANKA WIN BY 278 RUNS! Happy faces all around in the Lankan camp as the players leave the field after exchanging pleasantries. |
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