Top order leaves Sri Lanka in trouble after lefties’ heroics

Sri Lanka tour of South Africa 2019 | 1st Test – Day 03

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Yet another average display of batsmanship left Sri Lanka staring down the barrel again; at the stumps on day 03 of the 1st Test against South Africa, the visitors were left needing 221 runs to win with only 7 wickets in hand.

Chasing a daunting target of 304 runs (considering the bowling attack, inexperienced batting line up with a long tail and inconsistent pitch) in the fourth innings at Kingsmead, Durban, Sri Lanka openers showed their intent with a confident and positive approach in the middle. Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanna compiled a 42-run partnership before Thirimanna went for an expansive drive off Kagiso Rabada’s bowling, only to grant an easy catch to the opposition captain Faf du Plessis for 21.

Photos: Sri Lanka tour of South Africa 2019 | 1st Test – Day 03

Then, Karunaratne was found guarding his stumps at 20 by Vernon Philander’s precision bowling to throw away the good start  they managed. Kusal Mendis may not want to watch his dismissal again as he chased a short and wide one off Duanne Olivier’s bowling, perishing before opening his account.

Debutant Oshada Fernando and  the only half-century maker for Sri Lanka in the previous innings, Kusal Perera were adventurous with their shots, but left unscathed when umpires called off the day’s play due to bad light. Fernando and Perera were on 28* and 12* respectively at stumps.

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Earlier in the day, South Africa started the day 3’s proceedings with skipper Faf Du Plessis and wicket keeper batsman Quinton de Kock at the crease on 126/4, leading by 170 runs. Unlike the bowling effort from last evening, the Sri Lanka fast bowlers looked a bit flat in the first hour of play, letting the Protea duo play some shots to keep that lead moving towards 200.

Unfortunately, in the 49th over in-home team’s 2nd innings, Kusal Mendis was struck on his finger by an edge off du Plessis’s bat which dropped just in front of him at second slip. The blow looked painful as he was sent to the dressing room for medical treatment.

Embuldeniya, Rajitha duo keep Sri Lanka in the game

Lasith Embuldeniya and Kasun Rajitha put on a fighting 32-run partnership for the 9th…

After a dull morning session where the Sri Lankan bowlers did not look threatening, they seemed to have come to the field with a magic potion in their stomachs, particularly Lasith Embuldeniya and Vishwa Fernando, who dominated the post lunch session proceedings to restrict South Africa to 259.

After being on 227/5, skipper Faf du Plessis and all-rounder Vernon Philander returned to the middle to extend the lead which was at 271.  But they could only add another 24 runs to the total as young left-arm spinner mbuldeniya went straight through Philander’s bat and pad to find the middle stump.

Du Plessis looked assured at the crease before Vishwa Fernando launched a probing spell of fast bowling to rattle the skipper’s defense. Fernando yorked Du Plessis to appeal for a leg before wicket, but the umpire ruled that not out since there was bat on it. Replays showed that the ball hit the shoe first but unfortunately, Sri Lanka didn’t review it. Fernando had the last laugh however, as he trapped du Plessis again in his next over, this time plumb in front.

It was a Vishwa-Lasith show from then on as they picked up the last 5 South African wickets for 9 runs. Embuldeniya was the star of the day for Sri Lanka as the debutant picked up 5 scalps for 66 runs. His precise line and length and variation of speed was impressive for a 22-year old, playing his 1st international.

The fourth day will commence tomorrow at 1.30pm Sri Lankan time.









Title





Full Scorecard

South Africa

235/10 & 259/10

(79.1 overs)

Result

Sri Lanka

191/10 & 304/9

(85.3 overs)

SL won by 1 wicket

South Africa’s 1st Innings

Batting R B
Aiden Markram b V Fernando 11 27
Dean Elgar c N Dickwella b V Fernando 0 4
Hashim Amla c K Mendis b S Lakmal 3 10
Temba Bavuma (runout) V Fernando 47 66
Faf du Plessis c N Dickwella b K Rajitha 35 54
Quinton de Kock c V Fernando b K Rajitha 80 94
Vernon Philander c & b K Rajitha 4 22
Keshav Maharaj c N Dickwella b V Fernando 29 35
Kagiso Rabada c O Fernando b V Fernando 3 16
Dale Steyn b L Embuldeniya 15 26
Dane Olivier not out 0 6
Extras
8 (lb 6, nb 2)
Total
235/10 (59.4 overs)
Fall of Wickets:
0-1 (D Elgar, 1.4 ov), 9-2 (H Amla, 6.1 ov), 17-3 (A Markram, 7.4 ov), 89-4 (du Plessis, 24.2 ov), 110-5 (T Bauma, 29.2 ov), 6-131 (V Philander, 37.4 ov), 7-178 (K Maharaj, 45.6 ov), 8-186 (K Rabada, 49.6 ov), 9-219 (D Steyn, 56.4 ov), 10-235 (de Kock, 59.4 ov)
Bowling O M R W E
Suranga Lakmal 14 3 29 1 2.07
Vishwa Fernando 17 1 62 4 3.65
Kasun Rajitha 14.4 0 68 3 4.72
Dimuth Karunarathne 3 0 9 0 3.00
Lasith Embuldeniya 10 1 51 1 5.10
Oshada Fernando 1 0 10 0 10.00

Sri Lanka’s 1st Innings

Batting R B
Dimuth Karunarathne lbw by V Philander 30 59
Lahiru Thirimanne c de Kock b D Steyn 0 15
Oshada Fernando lbw by D Steyn 19 42
Kusal Mendis c du Plessis b V Philander 12 24
Kusal Janith c Z Hamza b D Steyn 51 63
Niroshan Dickwella c D Steyn b D Olivier 8 12
Dhananjaya de Silva c D Olivier b K Rabada 23 33
Suranga Lakmal c A Markram b D Steyn 4 6
Lasith Embuldeniya c D Steyn b K Rabada 24 63
Kasun Rajitha (runout) A Markram 12 30
Vishwa Fernando not out 1 9
Extras
7 (b 3, lb 3, w 1)
Total
191/10 (59.2 overs)
Fall of Wickets:
19-1 (L Thirimanne, 6.4 ov), 51-2 (O Fernando, 18.2 ov), 53-3 (D Karunarathne, 19.6 ov), 76-4 (K Mendis, 25.4 ov), 90-5 (N Dickwella, 29.2 ov), 133-6 (D De Silva, 38.5 ov), 142-7 (S Lakmak, 40.1 ov), 8-152 (K Janith, 44.3 ov), 184-9 (K Rajitha, 55.3 ov), 191-10 (L Embuldeniya, 59.2 ov)
Bowling O M R W E
Dale Steyn 20 7 48 4 2.40
Vernon Philander 10 2 32 2 3.20
Kagiso Rabada 12.2 2 48 2 3.93
Dane Olivier 13 2 36 1 2.77
Keshav Maharaj 3 0 16 0 5.33
Dean Elgar 1 0 5 0 5.00

South Africa’s 2nd Innings

Batting R B
Dean Elgar c & b L Embuldeniya 35 70
Aiden Markram c K Mendis b K Rajitha 28 31
Hashim Amla c L Thirimanne b V Fernando 16 35
Temba Bavuma lbw by L Embuldeniya 3 16
Faf du Plessis lbw by V Fernando 90 182
Quinton de Kock lbw by L Embuldeniya 55 62
Vernon Philander b L Embuldeniya 18 54
Keshav Maharaj b V Fernando 4 13
Kagiso Rabada c N Dickwella b L Embuldeniya 0 2
Dale Steyn b V Fernando 1 6
Dane Olivier not out 2 7
Extras
7 (lb 2, w 2, nb 3)
Total
259/10 (79.1 overs)
Fall of Wickets:
36-1 (A Markram, 9.6 ov), 70-2 (H Amla, 19.1 ov), 77-3 (T Bavuma, 22.2 ov), 95-4 (D Elgar, 28.6 ov), 191-5 (de Kock, 52.6 ov), 251-6 (V Philander, 72.4 ov), 255-7 (du Plessis, 75.6 ov), 256-8 (K Rabada, 76.4 ov), 256-9 (K Maharaj, 77.2 ov), 259-10 (D Steyn, 79.1 ov)
Bowling O M R W E
Suranga Lakmal 20 5 52 0 2.60
Vishwa Fernando 17.1 2 71 4 4.15
Kasun Rajitha 13 1 54 1 4.15
Lasith Embuldeniya 26 3 66 5 2.54
Dhananjaya de Silva 2 0 8 0 4.00
Oshada Fernando 1 0 6 0 6.00

Sri Lanka’s 2nd Innings

Batting R B
Dimuth Karunarathne lbw by V Philander 20 47
Lahiru Thirimanne c du Plessis b K Rabada 21 51
Oshada Fernando c du Plessis b D Steyn 37 76
Kusal Mendis c de Kock b D Olivier 0 8
Kusal Janith not out 153 200
Niroshan Dickwella c & b D Steyn 0 2
Dhananjaya de Silva lbw by K Maharaj 48 79
Suranga Lakmal c du Plessis b K Maharaj 0 1
Lasith Embuldeniya c A Markram b D Olivier 4 12
Kasun Rajitha lbw by K Maharaj 1 10
Vishwa Fernando not out 6 27
Extras
14 (lb 13, w 1)
Total
304/9 (85.3 overs)
Fall of Wickets:
42-1 (L Thirimanne, 15.5 ov), 42-2 (D Karunarathne, 16.3 ov), 52-3 (K Mendis, 18.5 ov), 110-4 (O Fernando, 37.2 ov), 110-5 (N Dickwella, 37.4 ov), 206-6 (De Silva, 63.1 ov), 206-7 (S Lakmal, 63.2 ov), 215-8 (L Embuldeniya, 66.5 ov), 226-9 (K Rajitha, 69.4 ov)
Bowling O M R W E
Dale Steyn 18 1 71 2 3.94
Vernon Philander 8 3 13 1 1.63
Keshav Maharaj 20 1 71 3 3.55
Kagiso Rabada 22.3 3 97 1 4.35
Dane Olivier 16 3 35 2 2.19
Aiden Markram 1 0 4 0 4.00