2nd Test, Gqeberha, December 05, 2024, 01:30 PM
358/10(103.4ov) & 317/10(86.0ov)
328/10(99.2ov) & 238/10(69.1ov)
South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 109 runs
South Africa make progress in the World Test Championship table while the loss has dampened Lanka's hope of making the finals. The trophy has been handed over to Temba Bavuma who joins his teammates now. That is all from this game and the tour. Hope you'll enjoy the coverage. Till then, cheers and goodbye!
Temba Bavuma is the PLAYER OF THE SERIES! He says it is good to be back, it was frustrating but now he enjoys being out there. Mentions he’s happy he got an opportunity and he did well. States Durban was difficult but he tried to bat with intent and it came off well. Adds it is rare when the game goes till the 5th day and it was in the balance for a lot of time and credit to Lanka for the way they went about their business. Ends by saying the batters were really good and everybody chipped in when needed and the WTC table looks good now and he hopes they can continue the good work.
Dhananjaya de Silva says this game was tight, the team fought hard but they weren’t good enough to come out on top. States the conditions are different but the bowling attack was good, even the spinners did really well. Ends by saying they played well but the result wasn’t on their side and he hopes they can keep getting better and he’s looking forward to the series against Australia.
The Player of the Match, Dane Paterson says he feels great but it was a team effort and he’s very happy for his side. Mentions it is a very good feeling and he’s very happy they won the game. Adds he loves bowling and he enjoys putting in the work. Ends by saying he didn’t notice he got three in the over but the emotions are sinking in now and he hopes they can continue to do well.
...Presentation...
At the end of Day 4, Sri Lanka lost five wickets and a lot of hope as well but the partnership between Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis in the final session showed something special was building up for the visitors. However, this wasn't the case as South Africa got the duo in no time and cleaned up the tail by keeping things very simple. Keshav Maharaj showed his experience on a flat pitch and ended with his 10th five-fer in Test cricket.
Sri Lanka in reply batted really well as compared to their poor outing in the first match. The top five made massive contributions and ended just 30 shy of the hosts first innings score. Dane Paterson was the pick of the lot as he picked up five wickets. The onus was on the hosts' side and once again, in the second innings South Africa's batting compartment stepped up. Prabath Jayasuriya scalped five wickets but Sri Lanka had a mountain to climb as they needed more than 300 runs to win in the fourth innings which is never easy while touring a country which possesses a lot of threat with the ball.
It was a complete performance from South Africa! After winning the toss, South Africa posted more than 350 thanks to the centuries from Ryan Rickelton and Kyle Verreynne. The former played well along with Bavuma but it was Kyle Verreynne's innings with the tail which made a whole lot of difference to the score. Sri Lanka had to grind hard to take wickets and the pace trio took 9 wickets together.
So, South Africa needed just over an hour to clean up the Lankan team. The pressure was on Sri Lanka from the morning. They were short of batters and the likes of Dhananjaya de Silva and Mendis were send back to hut in the space of 3 overs. After that, it was just a procession. South Africa win the series 2-0.
In over# 70
0W
Marco Jansen 54/1(10.1)
OUT! Taken! That's the end of the game. SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 109 RUNS! A good short one on middle. Kumara looks to pull. It goes off the top edge and Ryan Rickelton at mid on takes it.
69.1
W
OUT! Taken! That's the end of the game. SOUTH AFRICA WIN BY 109 RUNS! A good short one on middle. Kumara looks to pull. It goes off the top edge and Ryan Rickelton at mid on takes it.
In over# 69
0
0W
1
0
0
0
Keshav Maharaj 76/5(25)
68.6
.
Floats it up on middle. Blocked.
OUT! Taken! Maharaj has his fifth. He really loves this ground. Bowls this one slower and on middle. Fernando looks to play the slog sweep. It goes off the top edge towards long on and Jansen takes it. The hosts just a wicket away now.
68.5
W
OUT! Taken! Maharaj has his fifth. He really loves this ground. Bowls this one slower and on middle. Fernando looks to play the slog sweep. It goes off the top edge towards long on and Jansen takes it. The hosts just a wicket away now.
68.4
1
On the stumps. This is worked through square leg for one.
68.3
.
Slower through the air and on middle. This is worked to mid-wicket.
68.2
.
Floated up on off. Kumara lunges and keeps it out.