Sri Lanka arrived in South Africa armed with meticulous plans and a quiet confidence that they could outwit the hosts. Their optimism was bolstered by the fact that the Tests were to be played in Durban and Port Elizabeth, grounds where they’ve traditionally punched above their weight. True to form, the bowlers hit the ground running, bundling South Africa out for under 200 in the first innings. But then came an hour of utter chaos on day two that turned their fortunes on its head.
From the moment Sri Lanka crumbled to a jaw-dropping 42 all out, they were left chasing shadows. It is their lowest total ever in Test match cricket. Behind the eight ball and struggling to stay afloat, they found themselves in an uphill battle they could never quite win.
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There were, however, silver linings in the Durban cloud. Sri Lanka showed grit in their second innings, batting for 80 overs and notching up nearly 300 runs—no mean feat in South African conditions, especially in a fourth-innings.
Lahiru Kumara’s fiery spell was another highlight. He didn’t just claim a rich haul of wickets; he made his presence felt by rattling the South Africans with hostile pace. A vicious delivery that fractured Wiaan Mulder’s right middle finger effectively ruled the all-rounder out of the series. Kumara’s ferocity was ably supported by the Fernandos—Asitha and Vishwa—while Prabath Jayasuriya was, as always, a model of reliability.
Sri Lanka’s pace battery has been a revelation in recent years, proving instrumental in overseas success. But for these efforts to translate into wins, the batters need to pull their weight.
Dinesh Chandimal’s knock in the second innings was a lesson in how to weather the storm. Calm and measured, he batted for over five hours, displaying the patience and grit that Test cricket demands. It was unfortunate that he fell short of a well-deserved century.
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Chandimal’s new role at number three seems to suit him well. Watching him leave the ball, grind down the opposition, and force the quicks into extended spells was a masterclass in attritional batting. At the twilight of his career, Chandimal’s success in this pivotal position is heartening. Since Kumar Sangakkara vacated the spot, Sri Lanka have struggled to find a consistent number three. Perhaps Chandimal is the man for the job, even if only for a short while.
Sri Lanka’s Achilles’ heel, however, remains their tendency to collapse like a house of cards. This year, their fragility has been masked by the brilliance of Kamindu Mendis, who has been the glue holding the innings together. His partnerships with the tail have repeatedly dragged the team to respectable totals. But when Kamindu failed in Durban, the batting fell apart like a deck of poorly stacked cards. Walking in with the bowlers still fresh, he couldn’t perform his usual rescue act.
Sri Lanka’s batters need a rethink. While showing intent and aggression is commendable, a bit of cricketing smarts wouldn’t go amiss. Durban presented a golden opportunity to bat South Africa out of the game. With the hosts a bowler short, the onus was on Sri Lanka to apply themselves and seize the moment. Their failure to do so meant they let South Africa off the hook.
As they head to Port Elizabeth, a shift in strategy might be in order. Perhaps they should consider leaving more deliveries and playing the waiting game. Batting in South Africa is notoriously difficult—only five Sri Lankans have scored centuries here in Test cricket, with Dimuth Karunaratne being the sole centurion in the current squad. His contribution will be vital if Sri Lanka are to turn the tide.
Interestingly, this isn’t uncharted territory for Sri Lanka. In England earlier this year, they stumbled out of the blocks but managed to regroup as the series progressed. There’s no reason why they can’t repeat that script in South Africa.
That said, their record-breaking collapse in Durban—42 all out—was their first innings on the center wicket, a situation compounded by the lack of a warm-up game. The modern cricket calendar, crammed tighter than a rush-hour train, leaves little room for practice matches.
In a bid to address their batting woes, the team has opted for an extra training session on the center wicket on Sunday. Meanwhile, the bowlers will enjoy a well-earned day off, as Sunday would have been the final day of the now-concluded Test match.
Sri Lanka knows what’s at stake. The World Test Championship final is tantalizingly close, and having come this far, throwing it away would be nothing short of a crime. Durban was a wake-up call; Port Elizabeth offers a chance for redemption. Whether they rise to the occasion or wilt under pressure remains to be seen.
