Gaji
Sri Lanka 338 (Samaraweera 102, Chandimal 58, de Lange 7-81) and 7 for 1 lead South Africa 168 (Amla 54, Welegedara 5-52, Herath 4-49) by 177 runs
In what has previously been a champagne year for Test cricket, Chanaka Welegedara and Rangana Herath set Sri Lanka up for what could be the biggest Test upset of 2011. There were no signs of Durban's famed Green Mamba - tides which are rumored to make the Kingsmead track juicy - but that didn't put off South Africa from being knocked over for their lowest total against Sri Lanka. While the lower order had to deal with some sharp spin, the expert batsmen didn't have to face any snorters, which make the collapse more baffling.
An assured stand of 76 for the fourth wicket between Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers showed how few gremlins there were in the surface, but collapse on either side of that partnership had South Africa scramble to avert the follow-on. Their tail managed to achieve that, before Welegedara completed his five-for and finished the innings by getting Marchant de Lange to edge to the keeper. De’s 7 for 81 had limited Sri Lanka to 338 in the morning, but instead of a well-earned rest after becoming the eighth debutant to take a five-wicket haul this year, he had to bat in the gloom towards the end of the day.
The considerable lead of 170 did not seem likely even after Thilan Samaraweera became only the second Sri Lanka batsman to make a Test century in South Africa. de Lange had rip out the final three batsmen for three runs, but unhappily for the home fans the wickets sustained to tumble even when South Africa were batting.
Two overs after lunch, Jacques Rudolph sustained the trend of batsmen throw away their wickets, by helping a short ball on leg stump to deep-backward square leg. Graeme Smith followed minutes later, as he fished without footwork at a Chanaka Welegedara delivery to give wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal his first Test catch. It got a lot worse in Welegedara's next over as Jacques Kallis edge to slip to collect a rare Test duck, departure South Africa at 27 for 3.
South Africa still had two of their most bankable batsmen in the middle - Amla and de Villiers - and they revived the home side by comfortably playing out the rest of the session. De Villiers was subdued, but Amla showed his wide range of whiplash shots through the off side. There were several punches throughout cover for four and the point boundary was peppered as he pounced on the wide deliveries offered. Dilhara Fernando, regard as the lead of the Sri Lankan attack, was only bring on as the fourth-change bowler, but even his foreword didn't stop Amla, who lashed three fours in one over to cruise towards another half-century.
If South Africa were breathing easier at tea, when they were 100 for 3, they were left out of breath by what followed after the break. De Villiers chased a half-volley so wide that he ended up on his knees as he edged the ball to second slip. Welegedara had his fourth significant wicket two over’s later when Amla was caught at the back pushing at a delivery angle across.
That put Sri Lanka in charge, and two players whose places in the South Africa side are under inspection were left to launch a save effort. Questions over Mark Boucher's batting aptitude will intensify after his poke to gully off Rangana Herath for 3, but there will be even more pressure on Ashwell Prince after his botched reverse-sweep next to the spin, that too when South Africa were 119 for 6. With Herath proving too good for Morne Morkel, South Africa had lost five for 16.
Dale Steyn didn't get a wicket in a finished Test innings for the first time since 2008, but he still made a crucial contribution as he shepherded South Africa past the follow-on mark. The final two wickets put on 49, again showing that this wasn't a pitch not possible to bat on.
South Africa's submission made Samaraweera's century - only his second outside Asia -even more important. He and Herath defied the home side for more than an hour in complementary style: Samaraweera was 14 short of his hundred overnight and was in no hurry to reach the landmark, while Herath swung at everything, playing some comical yet effective flat-batted swipes next to the hulking fast bowlers.
Samaraweera got to his century soon after drinks, pushing the ball towards cover for two, before energetically celebrating the milestone by pretending to shoot at someone in the dressing room. Herath was also enjoying himself, with consecutive boundaries, both confident steers past cover point as Sri Lanka moved to 335 for 7 before de Lange's burst brought the innings to a quick end.
South Africa had some cheer late in the day, when Tillakaratne Dilshan decomposed for 4, but Sri Lanka is still in pole place to expand the home side's Durban jinx.
In what has previously been a champagne year for Test cricket, Chanaka Welegedara and Rangana Herath set Sri Lanka up for what could be the biggest Test upset of 2011. There were no signs of Durban's famed Green Mamba - tides which are rumored to make the Kingsmead track juicy - but that didn't put off South Africa from being knocked over for their lowest total against Sri Lanka. While the lower order had to deal with some sharp spin, the expert batsmen didn't have to face any snorters, which make the collapse more baffling.
An assured stand of 76 for the fourth wicket between Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers showed how few gremlins there were in the surface, but collapse on either side of that partnership had South Africa scramble to avert the follow-on. Their tail managed to achieve that, before Welegedara completed his five-for and finished the innings by getting Marchant de Lange to edge to the keeper. De’s 7 for 81 had limited Sri Lanka to 338 in the morning, but instead of a well-earned rest after becoming the eighth debutant to take a five-wicket haul this year, he had to bat in the gloom towards the end of the day.
The considerable lead of 170 did not seem likely even after Thilan Samaraweera became only the second Sri Lanka batsman to make a Test century in South Africa. de Lange had rip out the final three batsmen for three runs, but unhappily for the home fans the wickets sustained to tumble even when South Africa were batting.
Two overs after lunch, Jacques Rudolph sustained the trend of batsmen throw away their wickets, by helping a short ball on leg stump to deep-backward square leg. Graeme Smith followed minutes later, as he fished without footwork at a Chanaka Welegedara delivery to give wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal his first Test catch. It got a lot worse in Welegedara's next over as Jacques Kallis edge to slip to collect a rare Test duck, departure South Africa at 27 for 3.
South Africa still had two of their most bankable batsmen in the middle - Amla and de Villiers - and they revived the home side by comfortably playing out the rest of the session. De Villiers was subdued, but Amla showed his wide range of whiplash shots through the off side. There were several punches throughout cover for four and the point boundary was peppered as he pounced on the wide deliveries offered. Dilhara Fernando, regard as the lead of the Sri Lankan attack, was only bring on as the fourth-change bowler, but even his foreword didn't stop Amla, who lashed three fours in one over to cruise towards another half-century.
If South Africa were breathing easier at tea, when they were 100 for 3, they were left out of breath by what followed after the break. De Villiers chased a half-volley so wide that he ended up on his knees as he edged the ball to second slip. Welegedara had his fourth significant wicket two over’s later when Amla was caught at the back pushing at a delivery angle across.
That put Sri Lanka in charge, and two players whose places in the South Africa side are under inspection were left to launch a save effort. Questions over Mark Boucher's batting aptitude will intensify after his poke to gully off Rangana Herath for 3, but there will be even more pressure on Ashwell Prince after his botched reverse-sweep next to the spin, that too when South Africa were 119 for 6. With Herath proving too good for Morne Morkel, South Africa had lost five for 16.
Dale Steyn didn't get a wicket in a finished Test innings for the first time since 2008, but he still made a crucial contribution as he shepherded South Africa past the follow-on mark. The final two wickets put on 49, again showing that this wasn't a pitch not possible to bat on.
South Africa's submission made Samaraweera's century - only his second outside Asia -even more important. He and Herath defied the home side for more than an hour in complementary style: Samaraweera was 14 short of his hundred overnight and was in no hurry to reach the landmark, while Herath swung at everything, playing some comical yet effective flat-batted swipes next to the hulking fast bowlers.
Samaraweera got to his century soon after drinks, pushing the ball towards cover for two, before energetically celebrating the milestone by pretending to shoot at someone in the dressing room. Herath was also enjoying himself, with consecutive boundaries, both confident steers past cover point as Sri Lanka moved to 335 for 7 before de Lange's burst brought the innings to a quick end.
South Africa had some cheer late in the day, when Tillakaratne Dilshan decomposed for 4, but Sri Lanka is still in pole place to expand the home side's Durban jinx.
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