DAY 2: Bavuma the rock as Sri Lanka dismiss Proteas on 191

Lahiru Kumara © Gallo Images

Temba Bavuma was South Africa’s rock with a gutsy score of 70 in his 22nd test half-century, but Sri Lanka will be pleased with their morning’s work as they bowled out the Proteas for 191 in 49.4 overs at lunch on the second day of the first test. at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday.

Continuing to a total of 80 for four overnight in sunny and windy conditions, Sri Lanka struck early with their top fast bowler, Lahiru Kumara, in stark contrast to the dreary and damp conditions of the first day’s bowling of 20.4 overs. He made 140s while opening with some poison on a very fast paced pitch. In the fourth round of the day, he not only pinned Kyle Verreynne’s leg, but also hit the middle finger of Wiaan Mulder’s right hand with a sharply rising shot. After a few minutes, Mulder decided to leave the field for further treatment.

Marco Jansen joined Bavuma and timed a couple of fours before falling to left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya in his second over. Gerald Coetzee came and went, caught in the middle of a deep ruck attempt against Jayasuriya.

Enter Keshav Maharaj, who has had a poor time with the bat recently with four test ducks in a row. He looked confident this time, taking Jayasuriya for a six and four runs and then staring down another boundary that cost the tourists 15 runs.

But South Africa’s leading spinner was tempted too often as he smashed a brilliant 24 off 35 balls to midfield pacer Vishwa Fernando.

Bavuma, who watched most of the action from the bowler, eventually achieved a gritty half-century that included seven fours in 201 minutes and 93 balls. After passing that milestone, she opened up briefly, driving Kumara towards the boundaries and then pushing her up to six from three before finally tucking in to Asitha Fernando’s mid-on. It was a beautiful and tenacious knock (230 minutes, 117 balls, 9×4, 1×6) that helped relieve some of the stress his team was enduring.

Mulder returned to the fray and the all-rounder added 26 for the last wicket, heading six off spinner Dhananjaya de Silva before he and Kagiso Rabada were caught out by Rabada (15) catching Asitha Fernando at fine leg.

Asitha and Kumara were the most successful among Sri Lankan bowlers with three wickets each, while Vishwa and Jayusuriya also chipped in with one wicket each. In the end, it was a good fight against the tourists’ ball.

SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (week), Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada

SRI LANKA: Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Kusal Mendis (week), Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando