South Africa were bowled out for 235 after tea on the opening day of the first test against Sri Lanka in Durban on Wednesday (13).
Quinton de Kock was the last man to go, as he skied Kasun Rajitha to fine leg where Vishwa Fernando took a great catch. De Kock top-scored with 80 off 94 deliveries.
Fernando finished with 4-62 and Rajitha took 3-68.
After resuming on their lunchtime total of 89/4, the Proteas were still in difficulty on 181/7 in 48 overs at the break with De Kock accompanied by Kagiso Rabada.
Temba Bavuma was particularly unlucky to lose his wicket early in the second session when De Kock drove Vishwa Fernando firmly back at the bowler. The ball struck Fernando on the shin and deflected onto the stumps with Bavuma’s bat millimetres short of safety. The compact right-hand batsman was looking well set on 47 (68 balls, 7x4s) when he had to go.
Vernon Philander didn’t stay long, being late on a pull off Kasun Rajitha and only succeeding in lobbing the ball back to the bowler.
Philander’s dismissal meant that South Africa were in trouble on 131/6 but the innings gained some momentum during a bright seventh-wicket partnership of 47 in 51 balls between De Kock and Keshav Maharaj. While De Kock was relatively cautious in his approach, Maharaj played with his normal degree of freedom, striking four fours in his 29 in 35 balls before he was defeated by an excellent delivery by Fernando that straightened slightly, producing a fine edge. Maharaj immediately reviewed umpire Aleem Dar’s decision but “snicko” confirmed his dismissal.
At tea, De Kock was undefeated on 44 in 65 balls (4x4s) while Rabada was on a single.
The Sri Lankan bowlers continued to bowl well with Fernando the most successful with three scalps.
SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis (capt), Quinton de Kock (wk), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Duanne Olivier
SRI LANKA: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Lahiru Thirimanne, Oshada Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Suranga Lakmal, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lasith Embuldeniya
-Agencies
