Sri Lanka’s Historic Collapse: Bowled Out for 42 Runs Against South Africa

Sri Lanka was bowled out for a record-low score of 42 runs against South Africa in the first Test, enduring the shortest completed innings in 100 years at just 83 balls. The team’s collapse included five players dismissed for no runs, and South Africa, leading by 281 runs, continued to dominate on day three of the Test series.

In a historic and dismal performance, the Sri Lankan cricket team has been dismissed for a mere 42 runs, marking their lowest Test score to date in the opening Test against South Africa in Durban. This innings, remarkably brief, lasted only 83 balls, making it the shortest completed innings in a century. Following this capitulation, South Africa entered their second innings with a commanding position, leading by 281 runs as they finished day three at 3-132.

The match began on a challenging note for Sri Lanka, who were skittled out in just 13.5 overs. Prior to this, South Africa had been limited to 191 runs by Sri Lankan bowlers. However, the batting collapse was swift and unforgiving, with five players failing to score, and Kamindu Mendis emerging as the top-scorer with a modest 13 runs. The only substantial partnership of the innings was 16 runs between Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva, which ended when Mendis was dismissed. This triggered a disastrous sequence where four wickets fell without adding to the score, reducing Sri Lanka from 4-32 to 8-32.

Marco Jansen of South Africa recorded an exceptional bowling feat, claiming seven wickets for just 13 runs, thus becoming the first cricketer in over a century to achieve seven wickets in fewer than seven overs. This bowling performance contributed significantly to South Africa’s dominance in the match, as they quickly dismantled the Sri Lankan batting lineup.

This article discusses a monumental and unfortunate event in cricket history where Sri Lanka achieved its lowest Test score of 42 runs against South Africa. The significance of this match lies not only in the staggering score but also in the historical context, as it represents a record-breaking innings both for its brevity and poor performance. This revelation places Sri Lanka among teams that have suffered severe innings collapses in international cricket and sheds light on the pressures faced by teams at the international level, particularly with the amount of talent present within the cricketing community.

In summary, Sri Lanka’s performance in the first Test against South Africa is etched in history as their lowest Test score of 42 runs, amidst a backdrop of South African dominance. The match reveals the high stakes involved in competitive cricket and the potential for swift reversals in fortune. As the teams move forward, the considerable lead held by South Africa positions them favorably, while Sri Lanka grapples with the ramifications of this disappointing performance.

Original Source: www.abc.net.au