1st Test, Galle International Stadium, Galle12 - 16 July, 2018
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Toss won by Sri Lanka (decided to bat)
File image of Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar. (AFP Image)
REVIEW DAY 2: Spinners led by Dilruwan Perera put hosts Sri Lanka in firm command of the first Test on Friday after South Africa were bowled out for 126 -- their lowest Test innings in the country. First innings centurion Dimuth Karunaratne then made a fluent 60 as the hosts ended day two on 111 for four, leading by 272 runs at the Galle International Stadium. Angelo Mathews, on 14, and Roshen Silva, on 10, were batting at close of play after left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj claimed three wickets for South Africa.
But it was the Sri Lankan bowlers who starred on a dramatic day that witnessed South Africa slip to 51-6 before being bowled out for 126 in the second session of play. The dismal effort set a new low for South Africa in Sri Lanka, worse than their 169 in Colombo in 2006. Perera returned impressive figures of 4-46 with his off-spin, while paceman and stand-in skipper Suranga Lakmal took three wickets. Veteran spinner Rangana Herath started Sri Lanka's dominance by sending back nightwatchman Maharaj early, and Perera soon took crucial wickets including the dangerous Hashim Amla for 15.
Skipper Faf du Plessis made a gritty 49 and his 64-run seventh-wicket partnership with Vernon Philander, who made 18, was the best that South Africa could muster in their 54.3 overs. Herath grabbed two wickets while left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan claimed one -- the three spinners sharing seven wickets in total. Lakmal did not bowl at all until the 37th over of the innings, but was effective after lunch on day two, rattling the off-stump of du Plessis with a delivery that jagged in sharply. Lakmal then quickly got rid of the number nine and 10 batsmen to end the innings with figures of 3-21 from only 4.3 overs. Having established a lead of 161, Sri Lanka quickly set about extending it when they began their second innings, with the openers putting on a 51-run partnership. Karunaratne became only the second Sri Lanka batsman to score a hundred and a fifty in the same Test against South Africa, but was caught at slip off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada late in the day.
Commentary (South Africa innings)
11.3 D Perera to Bavuma, Bavuma has played that off the front foot and into the ground. 24/2
11.2 D Perera to Bavuma, Flighted and on middle, forced down towards mid on. 24/2
11.1 D Perera to Markram, Goes on the back foot to a shortish ball and punches it wide of Herath at point. He moves across to his left to collect the ball and they cross. 24/2
10.6 R Herath to Bavuma, Bavuma has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. 23/2
10.5 R Herath to Bavuma, Arm ball on off, skidding back in, Temba is forward in defense but it takes the inside edge and hits him on the pads. 23/2
10.4 R Herath to Bavuma, Full flighted on off, Bavuma lunges and blocks. 23/2
10.3 R Herath to Bavuma, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. 23/2
10.2 R Herath to Bavuma, Flighted on off, defended off the front foot. 23/2
10.1 R Herath to Bavuma, Bavuma has played that off the front foot and into the ground. 23/2
9.6 D Perera to Bavuma, Gets forward and eases it through covers for a single. 23/2
9.5 Perera to Bavuma, Tossed up ball on middle and spinning down, Bavuma gets down and across to sweep but fails to connect. It goes off his arms to the leg gully fielder who catches the ball and appeals. Nothing from the umpire and since Sri Lanka have already wasted a review, they didn't risk another. The replays show that it took the wrist band on its way. Hmm... 22/2
9.4 D Perera to A Markram, Comes down the track and knocks it down to long on for one. 22/2
9.3 D Perera to Bavuma, Uppish but just wide of the short leg fielder. Bavuma hurries down the track and then tries to block. But it spins back in to take the inside edge. Flies wide of the outstretched left hand of the short leg fielder and they cross for a single. 21/2
9.2 D Perera to Bavuma, Looks to defend it but gets an inside edge onto the pads. 20/2
9.1 D Perera to Bavuma, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. 20/2
8.6 R Herath to Markram, A risky shot. Floated full ball on off, Markram skips down the track and goes for a big shot. Looks more like a mishit as it flies off the toe end of the bat. The mid off fielder rushes across to his left to field the ball as it lands safely in the deep at covers. They take a couple. He played that into the wind which isn't a good idea. Needs to be careful with little things. 20/2
8.5 R Herath to Markram, Slows this one in the air and lands it full on off. Aiden defends it well off the front foot. 18/2
8.4 R Herath to Markram, Lunges to a full ball and defends it to the off side with the spin. 18/2
8.3 R Herath to Markram, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. 18/2
8.2 R Herath to Markram, Steps down the track a bit and then offers a straight bat in defense. 18/2
8.1 R Herath to Markram, Tossed up ball on middle, clipped through mid-wicket for a couple of runs. 18/2
7.6 D Perera to Bavuma, Flighted and outside off, going straight on, Bavuma plays for the spin which ain't there and hence gets beaten. 16/2
7.5 D Perera to Bavuma, Bavuma has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. 16/2
7.4 D Perera to Bavuma, Flighted and on middle, worked with the spin to mid-wicket. 16/2
Temba Bavuma is the number 4 batsman.
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 dives full length to grab a fine catch. Another body blow to South Africa. 16/2
7.2 D Perera to Amla, Floated one landing full on off, Amla reads it from the pitch and then defends it on the leg side. 16/1
7.1 D Perera to Markram, Too short in length and outside off, Aiden goes on the back foot and cracks it past mid off. Lakmal chases it down and they take three runs. 16/1
6.6 R Herath to Markram, This one skids back in from around the middle stump line, Markram helps it behind square leg and crosses to retain strike. 13/1
6.5 R Herath to Markram, Leans on the front foot to a full ball and defends it on the off side. 12/1
6.4 R Herath to Markram, A touch short and outside off, Markram reads the length early, gets back and punches it towards the point fielder. 12/1
6.3 R Herath to Markram, Tossed up and outside off, Aiden gets across the stumps to cover the line and then leaves it alone. 12/1
6.2 R Herath to Markram, Flighted and full on middle, Markram is on the front foot in defense. 12/1
6.1 R Herath to Markram, Markram has played that off the front foot and into the ground. 12/1
Hashim Amla is the number 3 batsman.
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. First blood drawn by Sri Lanka. 12/1
5.5 D Perera to Elgar, Floated ball on off, Elgar gets forward, in an ugly manner, to defend it back to the bowler. 12/0
5.4 D Perera to Markram, Steps down the track and pushes it off his pads to mid-wicket. The fielder there dives to his left and parries it towards mid on. A single taken. 12/0
5.3 D Perera to Markram, Gets a bit opened up in his stance as Markram is squared up in his defense. 11/0
5.2 D Perera to Markram, Lunges to a full ball, allows it to spin back in and then defends. 11/0
5.1 D Perera to Markram, Tossed up ball outside off, Markram defends it off his back foot. 11/0
4.6 R Herath to Elgar, Full and on middle, blocked to mid on to end the over. 11/0
4.5 R Herath to Markram, Fullish and on middle, skidding in, Markram gets forward to defend but it takes the inner half of the bat and travels to fine leg. Roshen Silva gives it the chase, slides and picks it up to throw. But while doing so, it comes out of his grasp and goes behind. Three taken due to that error. 11/0
4.4 R Herath to Markram, Steps down the track a bit and defends it off the outer half of the bat to covers. 8/0
4.3 R Herath to Markram, Presses forward to a full ball on middle and off and this time blocks it from the middle of the bat. 8/0
4.2 R Herath to Markram, Beauty! Drifting into the batsman around off, spinning away after landing, Markram tries to defend off the front foot but misses. 8/0
4.1 R Herath to Elgar, Flighted and full on off, Elgar presses forward and pushes it with soft hands to covers for a run. 8/0
3.6 D Perera to Markram, It's tossed up and very full outside off, Markram drives it through covers and picks up a couple of runs. 7/0
3.5 D Perera to Markram, Quicker this time, on middle, defended from the crease. 5/0
3.4 D Perera to Markram, Spin and bounce from around middle and leg, Markram fails to defend and it goes off his pads to leg gully. A moment of excitement for the Sri Lankan players. 5/0
3.3 D Perera to Markram, Loopy on off, once again Aiden defends it with the turn to the leg side. The short leg fielder dives to his right to stop the ball. 5/0
3.2 D Perera to Markram, Gets back inside the crease and defends it with the spin to short leg. 5/0
3.1 D Perera to A Markram, Flighted full ball on off, turning in, Markram gets forward to defend but it takes the inside half of the bat and rolls towards square leg. 5/0
Welcome back for the afternoon session. The South African trial by spin is about to begin. Dilruwan Perera to begin proceedings with a slip, leg slip and short leg in place.
...DAY 3, SECOND SESSION...
Safely negotiated. But the way both the openers batted against the spinners, signs are ominous. They need to be very careful after the break as Sri Lanka will bombard them with plenty of spin. At this point of time, South Africa need 347 more for a win with 10 wickets intact. Join us in a short while for all the action.
2.6 R Herath to Elgar, Tossed up ball wide outside off, left alone. That will be Lunch on day 3! 5/0
2.5 R Herath to Elgar, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. 5/0
2.4 R Herath to Elgar, Flatter and fuller on leg, Elgar keeps it out from the inner half of the bat to leg gully. 5/0
2.3 R Herath to Elgar, Very risky. Tries to sweep it on the leg side but it takes a top edge and flies over leg slip. A couple taken. 5/0
2.2 R Herath to Elgar, Slow and loopy on off, Elgar presses forward and defends. 3/0
2.1 R Herath to Elgar, Beaten! Tossed up ball outside off, not spinning in, Elgar tries to drive but misses. 3/0
1.6 D Perera to Markram, Landing wide outside leg, Markram pads it away. 3/0
1.5 D Perera to Markram, Off the mark! Gets on the front foot and drives it through covers for a couple of runs. 3/0
1.4 D Perera to Markram, Turning down, tapped in front of leg slip. 1/0
1.3 D Perera to Markram, The batsman defends it from within the crease. 1/0
1.2 D Perera to Elgar, On the pads, helped in front of square leg for a run. 1/0
1.1 D Perera to Elgar, Flighted on off, Elgar has played that off the front foot and into the ground. 0/0
Dilruwan Perera to bowl from the other end.
0.6 R Herath to Markram, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. 0/0
0.5 R Herath to Markram, Walks forward and across before offering a straight bat in defense. 0/0
0.4 R Herath to Markram, Flatter again, skidding in from middle, Markram clearly is not picking Herath. Tries to defend but gets an inside edge again. 0/0
0.3 R Herath to Markram, Flatter and on middle, Markram gets forward but is squared up as he defends it off the inside half of the bat. 0/0
0.2 Herath to Markram, NOT OUT! Impact is outside off and it's missing the stumps as well. Very poor review by Sri Lanka. A flighted ball around off, not turning much, Markram gets across a bit and then tries to defend but misses. He is hit on the pads, they appeal but nothing from the umpire. DRS s taken but the replays only told how poor that referral was. 0/0
Huge appeal for an lbw! Looks too high and that's why not given. Hang on, Sri Lanka want to review it.
0.1 R Herath to Markram, Arm ball to begin with, on middle and skidding down, Markram tries to flick but misses. They appeal unsuccessfully. Too high. 0/0
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