The Sri Lankan spinners set up the game beautifully for the hosts, as South Africa ended day 3 on 139/5, needing a further 351 runs for victory.
On another glorious morning in Colombo at the SSC, Sri Lanka resumed their 2nd innings on 151/3, 365 runs ahead of the wounded South Africans.
The South Africans were stumbling so bad on day two making the wicket look worse than what it actually was. Sri Lanka looked hardly troubled in their 2nd innings. That was the case on the third morning as well, with overnight batsmen Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews going about their business comfortably.
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Mathews who has been struggling for form during the past couple of years in Test cricket, started to look good as he inched towards a half century with the Sri Lankan lead growing fast. Karunaratne too went about his business smoothly as he closed in on a 2nd century in the series, after having gone past the half century mark in all four innings he batted.
Karunaratne though was eventually found out outside off stump, again. The introduction of Lungi Ngidi saw Karunaratne drawn into a false stroke 15 runs away from a century, to give Quinton de Kock his 150th dismissal in Test cricket.
Roshen Silva, another man short of runs and his place under threat once Chandimal comes back for Sri Lanka’s next Test, walked in at no. 6 and survived a few nervy moments before he eventually settled down to doing what he does best, wearing down the opposition.
Dilruwan Perera, unsung but not an underachiever
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Mathews finally got to a much needed half century off his 89th ball as he looked up to the heavens in relief. His knock included six boundaries as Sri Lanka went into lunch on day 3 at 237/4.
Sri Lanka crawled at a slow pace after the break. Silva was firm in defence while Mathews looked to move on before he was dismissed by Maharaj for a well constructed 71. The Sri Lankan camp decided 490 was good enough target as they declared their innings on 275/5 with Silva unbeaten on 32*.
South Africa survived a few close calls early in their pursuit of the daunting target, before Aiden Markram was trapped in front by the old man Rangana Herath for 14.
Theunis de Bruyn joined Dean Elgar as the South Africans looked comfortable in the series for the first time, though Elgar survived a few close calls especially against Dilruwan Perera.
Dilruwan had the last laugh when he finally trapped Elgar in front for 37, as that wicket opened the familiar flood gates of the Proteas during their tour of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s wagging tail
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