South African Bowlers Dominate as Sri Lanka Struggles in First Test

South African cricketers Tristan Stubbs and Temba Bavuma both scored centuries, leading South Africa to declare their second innings at 366 runs. Set with a formidable target of 516 runs, Sri Lanka struggled, finishing the day at 103 for five, with South African bowlers maintaining pressure by claiming wickets, continuing the tourists’ difficulties throughout the match.

In a commanding performance, South African cricketers Tristan Stubbs and Temba Bavuma achieved centuries, propelling their team to a formidable position before the bowlers dismissed five Sri Lankan batsmen on the third day of the first Test at Kingsmead in Durban. Stubbs scored 122 runs, while Bavuma contributed 113, establishing a fourth-wicket partnership of 249 runs, leading to South Africa declaring their second innings after amassing 366 runs for five wickets.

Sri Lanka faced a daunting target of 516 to secure victory, but ended the day at 103 for five, indicating a continued struggle against South Africa’s fast bowling attack. Although this result was an improvement over their first innings, where they recorded a record low of 42 runs, the tourists again found it difficult to cope with the opposition bowlers. Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen played pivotal roles, each claiming two wickets, while Gerald Coetzee added one to the tally.

The day commenced with South Africa resuming at 132 for two, where Stubbs and Bavuma effectively eliminated any prospects for Sri Lanka to regain momentum. They tactically accumulated runs in a low-risk manner, adding 101 runs in 33 overs before lunch. The Sri Lankan bowler Vishwa Fernando posed a challenge, creating a catch opportunity for Stubbs, but Angelo Mathews missed it, allowing him to continue his innings.

As the match proceeded into the afternoon, Stubbs and Bavuma gradually transitioned towards their centuries. Stubbs ultimately fell shortly before tea, bowled by Fernando, having exposed his leg stump, while Bavuma declared the innings when he was dismissed leg before wicket.

Early in Sri Lanka’s innings, Dimuth Karunaratne was eliminated by Rabada once again, edging a ball to Stubbs at slip for a mere four runs. Pathum Nissanka showed determination, scoring 23 runs, only to be dismissed shortly after for gloving a no-ball to the wicketkeeper. Jansen maintained his impressive form by taking out Angelo Mathews and Kamindu Mendis, with Rabada concluding the day’s play with a catch from nightwatchman Prabath Jayasuriya. Dinesh Chandimal remained not out on 29 runs at the close of play.

The first Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Kingsmead in Durban has displayed a dominant performance from South African cricketers. After a low first-innings total from Sri Lanka, South African batsmen responded emphatically, establishing a substantial target for the visitors. The ongoing contest highlights the disparity in performance between the two squads, particularly in the realms of batting and bowling, which have been critical factors influencing the outcome of the match to this point.

In summary, South Africa showed remarkable batting strength through Stubbs and Bavuma, allowing them to set a daunting target for Sri Lanka, which struggled significantly despite some improvement. The fast bowlers of South Africa effectively dismantled the Sri Lankan batting line-up, indicating a severe challenge for Sri Lanka to achieve the required target. Overall, the match underscores South Africa’s dominance over their opponents thus far.

Original Source: www.rfi.fr