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South Africa (621) defeat Sri Lanka (396 & 180) by an innings and 45 runs to win the 1st Test

Hasaranga showing his inexperience.

Going to be long two days in the field for Sri Lanka.
 
Almost 550 runs already this game and we're barely into the afternoon session on day 2.
 
Markham had some struggles in test cricket for a year or so. He went back to domestic cricket and got some decent scores. He has come back to international cricket after that and he looks a much better player. He should be disappointed though as he missed out on a big score .
 
Solid come back by RSA. If they can get a lead of 100-120 SL might fold cheaply. As both teams are batting so fast, draw is ruled out. 3 good boxing day matches going on in parallel.
 
Hasan123 said:
Markham had some struggles in test cricket for a year or so. He went back to domestic cricket and got some decent scores. He has come back to international cricket after that and he looks a much better player. He should be disappointed though as he missed out on a big score .
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A lesson for some Pakistani players, perhaps?
 
Markram is a star in the making, by the time we tour next he will be one of their main pillars who might stop a series victory :(
 
guldozer said:
A lesson for some Pakistani players, perhaps?
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Yep it is. South Africa don't throw in players into international cricket without proper domestic experience or some performances at domestic level .

Saw some posters mocking Sipamla, he has played 28 first class games and done okay. Even though he lacks international experience, he has experience of first class cricket.
 
Hasan123 said:
Yep it is. South Africa don't throw in players into international cricket without proper domestic experience or some performances at domestic level .

Saw some posters mocking Sipamla, he has played 28 first class games and done okay. Even though he lacks international experience, he has experience of first class cricket.
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He came back well today picked 4 wickets.
 
Interested to see how Mulder does with the bat. He looked impressive with the ball.
 
Mesozoic said:
Hasaranga showing his inexperience.

Going to be long two days in the field for Sri Lanka.
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Should have played Embuldenya the SLA. He did really well in last tour of SA as well. I think Hasaranga got a nod to have some batting depth as Shanaka is playing over injured Mathews as 5th bowling option and is obviously not as good as Mathews with bat.

Hasaranga is a good leggy but, as I have shared by views multiple times that in SENA unless you have someone extraordinary you should go with a finger spinner. De Silva also got injured while batting otherwise he could have provided some off spin option.
 
SAF is wasting their opportunity here being over excited. For their own bad, SRL batted too quick for this Test to end in a draw but SAF is almost like obliged to bring them back in. Ideally, an experienced side would have batted till 1 hour after Tea on day three and burry Srilanka with a 250+ lead. Still can happen but more likely that SAF will get a slender lead.

And, forget about SAF going to ZIM level - they are light years away from that. One of the strongest sporting nation in world needs just few years of transition- may be one WC in unfamiliar venue of India; by 2027, they’ll be among top contenders with a black majority team.
 
MMHS said:
SAF is wasting their opportunity here being over excited. For their own bad, SRL batted too quick for this Test to end in a draw but SAF is almost like obliged to bring them back in. Ideally, an experienced side would have batted till 1 hour after Tea on day three and burry Srilanka with a 250+ lead. Still can happen but more likely that SAF will get a slender lead.

And, forget about SAF going to ZIM level - they are light years away from that. One of the strongest sporting nation in world needs just few years of transition- may be one WC in unfamiliar venue of India; by 2027, they’ll be among top contenders with a black majority team.
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Yep. 2027 they will be back to full strength. They will still continue to wallop the kangaroos in their own backyard.
Rabada will humiliate Smith and Warner again.
 
Trail by 141 and the next 5 guys to bat do not have averages above 15

Desperately need a wicket here
 
Really impressed with Kumara. Great find. Similar build to Shannon Gabriel and also bowls that pace. @pacy_with_wisdom might have a few points about him.
 
How did Faf Du plessis play for so long. Such a terrible batsman. Doesnt even average 40 in tests and he has been downright terrible since 2018. Wcen at his peak, he failed spectacularly against India,Pakistan, England etc. and never scored those big hundreds. May be a bit better than Asaf Shafiq but that's about it .
 
People don't realise this but south Africa have the best young attack in the world.
In terms of potential in the next 5 years or so, saffers have the best attack.

Nortje is 27
Rabada 25
Ngidi 24

Then you sipamla, glenton stuurar and Coetze. Loads of talent.

Pakistan need to find one more talent to be on Shaheens level and they will get there too.
 
tyron_woodley said:
People don't realise this but south Africa have the best young attack in the world.
In terms of potential in the next 5 years or so, saffers have the best attack.

Nortje is 27
Rabada 25
Ngidi 24

Then you sipamla, glenton stuurar and Coetze. Loads of talent.

Pakistan need to find one more talent to be on Shaheens level and they will get there too.
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They have lots of talent, they need a proper coaching system to keep them in check and develop accordingly.

Shaheen Shah
Mohammad Hasnain
Naseem Shah (he can bowl)
Akif Javed
Shahnawaz Dahani
Amir Khan
Sameen Gul

They would all do so well under the coaching staffs at Australia, New Zealand, India and England.
 
Rana said:
They have lots of talent, they need a proper coaching system to keep them in check and develop accordingly.

Shaheen Shah
Mohammad Hasnain
Naseem Shah (he can bowl)
Akif Javed
Shahnawaz Dahani
Amir Khan
Sameen Gul

They would all do so well under the coaching staffs at Australia, New Zealand, India and England.
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For tests I reckon Shaheen Hassan Gul and maybe dahani.

Amir akif Husnain are better suited for short formats.
 
tyron_woodley said:
For tests I reckon Shaheen Hassan Gul and maybe dahani.

Amir akif Husnain are better suited for short formats.
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Hasnain has shown that he is ready to improve and bowl consistently in one place with patience. This is the difference between him and Musa (who I did not mention in the list). This is why I think Hasnain would also become a good Test match option but I don’t think he will hit the ground running.

We need to be patient. I’m still back Naseem to turn things around for himself, it is a blessing for him to have toiled so much, so hard whilst he is still young. The good times will come for him
 
Will be hard for Sri Lanka to come back in this match especially with Rajitha seemingly out and Kumara being smashed around like a school boy. South Africa for all their shortcomings still have quality batsmen like Faf, Elgar, Markram. Faf will be eyeing a century and with Bavuma set and Mulder to come Sri Lanka are in for a toil tomorrow, especially if Rajitha doesn't recover.
 
Three wickets in two overs from Lutho Sipamla, followed by fifties for Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram and Faf du Plessis, have put South Africa on the front foot in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Centurion.


Sipamla tidied up the Sri Lankan innings as they added 56 to their overnight score before South Africa dominated before tea with Markram and Elgar heping them race to 141 before the former perished for 68.

But the start of the final session proved fruitful for Sri Lanka, who prized the wickets of Rassie van der Dussen, Elgar (95) and Quinton de Kock, to swing the pendulum, as the hosts slipped from 200/1 to 220/4.

However, stalwart Du Plessis (55*) and Temba Bavuma (41*) held the fort to drive the home side to 317/4 at stumps.

Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka were looking to add to their overnight score while Kasun Rajitha and Dasun Shanaka were being put to the test by the pace bowling of Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi, but Shanaka wasn't afraid to free his arms as he blasted two sixes in one Nortje over.

At 387/6, Sri Lanka looked like they might be posting a formidable total but Sipamla struck with his second and third balls of the day. First he found the edge of Rajitha to Elgar at second slip before uprooting Vishwa Fernando's off stump the very next ball. Shanaka continued to impress as he blasted a total of five sixes on his way to an unbeaten 66 from 87 balls, but Sipamla finished the innings off as Van der Dussen juggled the ball before holding onto it at first slip to remove Lahiru Kumara. With Dhananjaya de Silva having retired hurt on day one and being ruled out for two weeks, Sri Lanka were all out for 396.

The tourists were dealt another injury blow in the sixth over of South Africa's innings as Rajitha pulled up with a problem, leaving Shanaka to complete the over. Openers Markram and Elgar did well to take the Proteas to lunch without loss and the scoreboard on 45.

The pair returned for the second session and both continued to dispatch the bad balls as they each passed fifty. Sri Lanka finally got a breakthrough in the 29th over as Markram drove loosely to give a sharp catch to Shanaka at gully off Fernando, but Van der Dussen and Elgar took the home side to a promising 180/1 at tea.

The evening session however saw a fightback by the tourists, as Van der Dussen (15) edged Kumara to Niroshan Dickwella and Elgar perished just four balls later, chipping the ball back to Shanaka, as the home side fell from 200/1 to 200/3. Wanindu Hasaranga then came back into the attack and removed De Kock (18) with his first ball and the tide seemed to be turning.

However, Bavuma and Du Plessis steadied the ship, with the latter reaching his 22nd Test fifty, as the hosts made it to stumps without further damage, setting up a good platform for day three.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1955442
 
Sri Lanka's score now looks about 50 short of par, the wicket looked really flat today. It'll be hard to come back into this test with 2 bowlers ruled out.
 
jeeteshssaxena said:
Sri Lanka's batting is stronger than India and Pakistan in Eng,Nz and SA.
I think they handle lateral movement much better than our superstars and this is not just based on one series.
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Not true. Without taking anything away from Sri Lanka but India and Pakistan have it tough here.
They mainly play in the Highveld (Centurion and Wanderers) and Cape Town, usually seaming and bouncy conditions.
Sri Lanka mainly play in the Lowveld Durban and PE. India and Pakistan would slaughter us in these conditions, easily.

For perspective India have never lost a test match at the Wanderers having faced the likes of Donald, Pollock, Ntini and Steyn. These are our greatest ever bowlers and India have found ways to win. All due respect to Sri Lanka but they'd get slaughtered by those bowlers in those conditions.
 
Last Monetarist said:
Sri Lanka's score now looks about 50 short of par, the wicket looked really flat today. It'll be hard to come back into this test with 2 bowlers ruled out.
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Wicket looking "flat"? Both teams have bowled rubbish tbh. We should be following on at this stage. Can't see how we cope with Australia
 
soso_killer said:
Wicket looking "flat"? Both teams have bowled rubbish tbh. We should be following on at this stage. Can't see how we cope with Australia
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There's pace and bounce, but it seems more even-paced compared to previous test matches at Centurion. I agree that both teams have bowled badly. Sri Lanka are behind now because they are two bowlers short.
 
Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram and Faf du Plessis all hit half-centuries as the Proteas enjoyed one of their strongest batting displays for nearly two years on the second day of the first Betway Test against Sri Lanka at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Sunday.

Opener Elgar fell five short of a century by striking a confident 95 (130 balls, 16 fours) and shared in a fluent first wicket partnership of 141 with Markram, who marked his recall to the national team with 68 (94 balls, 14 fours).

Former captain Du Plessis, playing his first Test match since standing down as skipper, ended the day well with an unbeaten 55 (81 balls, 9 fours) - South Africa reaching stumps on 317 for four.

That left them trailing the tourists by 79 runs on what was another busy day all-round.

It started with debutant Luthu Sipamla making amends for a tough day one by finishing as the pick of the bowlers with four for 76, the Sri Lankans slipping from 340 for six overnight to 396 all out.

But it was tough going initially with the daring Dasun Shanaka (66 not out off 87 balls, 3 fours, 5 sixes) proving difficult to dislodge.

The all-rounder put on 67 with Kasun Rajitha (12) to leave the home side sweating, the total at stage leaving the islanders in the pound seat on 387 for six.

But Sipamla finally got the ball to talk late on, removing the last three wickets for the addition of nine runs, including claiming two wickets in two balls – Sri Lanka all out in 96 overs.

It was then over to South Africa’s batsmen, who had struggled to get going in recent months.

Not since their 2018/19 home series against Pakistan had they batted confidently and openers Markram and Elgar revived those fond old memories with a bold opening stand that lasted 28.4 overs.

However, it ended with a loose drive by Markram off Vishwa Fernando that flew straight to backward point.

Rassie van der Dussen managed just 15 in a stand of 59 with Elgar, before both men fell with the total on 200.

Twenty runs later and a fine Wanindu Hasaranga delivery on debut sent captain Quinton de Kock (18) on his way, the bowler earning his maiden Test wicket in the process.

But Du Plessis and Temba Bavuma (41 not out) added an unbroken 97 together for the fifth wicket to maintain the momentum and leave their side well-placed heading into day three.
 
Out of the 11 players in the Sri Lanka team for this match, 4 are not on the field.

Dhananjaya De Silva
Kasun Rajitha
Lahiru Kumara
Wanidu Hasaranga
 
What happened? I thought South Africa cricket was finished? I thought they were going down the Zimbabwe route after day 1?

Pakistan fans need to stop predicting the demise of South African cricket and concentrate on the demise of Pakistan cricket.
 
Mickey's coaching reflecting in SL's performance. All flash, zazba, junoon, badmashi and stuff, zero substance.
 
Hyperion66 said:
Mickey's coaching reflecting in SL's performance. All flash, zazba, junoon, badmashi and stuff, zero substance.
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Mahraj scoring 48 off 73

Not sure you can judge this side on a road like this. Plus they have like 20 players injured in this Test. This will most likely be a draw.

Im feeling a Kusal Perera double ton coming up!
 
Test cricket is right now is reduced to 4 teams(NZ,Eng,Aus and India), others simply not upto the mark.

Sad state of affairs
 
Bad news for Pakistan is that Faf is getting some form, Rabada will be back when we play them, and Mulder looks impressive.
 
Hasan123 said:
What happened? I thought South Africa cricket was finished? I thought they were going down the Zimbabwe route after day 1?

Pakistan fans need to stop predicting the demise of South African cricket and concentrate on the demise of Pakistan cricket.
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We trashed SL at home as well, you are chest thumping as if they have won in SL
 
Rana said:
Mahraj scoring 48 off 73

Not sure you can judge this side on a road like this. Plus they have like 20 players injured in this Test. This will most likely be a draw.

Im feeling a Kusal Perera double ton coming up!
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When Mickey was getting praises left-right-center the other day for SL's supposedly dare-devil approach to batting that pitch was road even then, no?

Anyways, no way SL are going to score that much in the fourth innings, most probably will be bundled out for a low score due to massive scoreboard pressure.
 
shah_1 said:
We trashed SL at home as well, you are chest thumping as if they have won in SL
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Sri Lanka made nearly 400 and South Africa will still win. Furthermore South Africa have beaten Australia and India at home. They are not going down the Zimbabwe route. Pakistan fans need to accept that reality.

Even at their worst according to some, they are producing Rabada,De Kock,Mulder,Norje,JP Malan,and Ngidi.
 
South Africa will soon join NZ as the 4th/5th best team in the world. All the talk of their demise are baseless.
 
Markhor said:
Not sure how any side is meant to compete when bowlers are going down like tenpins.
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True but it wasn't a great bowling performance when Markham and Elgar were batting. If Sri Lanka performed with the ball, you would be giving Mickey the credit.
 
Markhor said:
Not sure how any side is meant to compete when bowlers are going down like tenpins.
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It wasn't a dig to Mickey or SL team, It was directed towards posters to credited Mickey for SL's aggressive approach the other day. I don't even comment on a captain based on a few matches let alone judging a coach.
 
SA will be back to being a top team but they are already paying for their sins as they were ranked alongside West Indies and Bangladesh in World Cup 2019, same in Test Championship 2019-2021 and home test series loss vs Sri Lanka.

Anyways, hoping for a solid comeback as I have lots of admiration for the SA team of past 20-25 years.
 
JibranAnsari said:
srilanka veat the sa team 2-0 and we lost to the same team by 3-0 margin
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It is such a flawed approach comparing team A & B solely based on their performances against team C. There are just so many parameters and variables involved that it is a mathematical and logical nightmare.
 
SA should bat as long as they don't get all out. A 300+ lead will mean that they won't have to bat again unless pitch continues to remain flat.

Btw, is this series a part of Test Championship?
 
SAF has got themselves exactly where they would have dreamt- around 250 ahead with an hour to go before end of 3rd day.

I think, we are going to lose another 5 overs today - that’s 15 in three days, otherwise Srilanka would have been two down and 200+ behind by end of day 3.
 
INNINGS BREAK - Day 3, Session 3

SL 396/10 (96.0)

SA 621/10 (142.1), RR: 4.37

du Plessis - 199 (276)
Elgar - 95 (130)
Maharaj - 73 (106)
Bavuma - 71 (125)

Hasaranga - 4/171
Fernando - 3/129

SA lead by 225 runs, 17.5 overs remaining in the day.
 
Good to see Rameez Raja commentating on Super Sport.. I think part of a 3 year deal that Super Sport has with PCB..
 
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shaaik said:
Good to see Rameez Raja commentating on Super Sport.. I think he's a part of a 3 year deal that Super Sport has with PCB..
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What a life! going in and out of a beautiful country like South Africa for the next three years for work purposes
 
Loving this approach by Sri Lanka, they will knock these runs off very soon and look to post a lead as long as all 11 bat

I think they are 2-3 players down at the moment.
 
Kusal Perera is a brutal batsman. Love this guys attacking style of Cricket.
 
RSA 621
SL 396 & 65/2 (12) CRR: 5.42
Day 3: Stumps - Sri Lanka trail by 160 runs

==
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Capture.JPG
 
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Faf du Plessis fell one short of a double century and Lungi Ngidi nabbed two late wickets as the Proteas took firm control after three days of the first Betway Test against Sri Lanka at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Monday.

The former captain struck a stellar career-best 199 (276 balls, 24 fours), going past 4000 Test runs in the process, and helping South Africa amass a score of 621.

The 36-year-old and received excellent support from Temba Bavuma (71 off 125 balls, 7 fours) and Keshav Maharaj (73 off 106 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes) – the hosts posting their eighth highest Test total ever.

It was also their highest mark against the tourists and biggest team total since they reached 627 for seven declared against England at Cape Town in 2016.

That gave Mark Boucher’s charges an innings lead of 225 and they further drove home their advantage by reducing the visitors to 65 for two by the close thanks to Ngidi’s two for 28 – still trailing by 160.

They started out on the third morning already in a much more confident position on 317 for four, hunting down Sri Lanka’s 396, with Du Plessis and Bavuma extending their fifth-wicket partnership to 179.

Their stand was ended when Bavuma slashed wildly at a Dasun Shanaka deliver and was given out caught behind. He walked without reviewing, a mistake he will rue as replays proved there was no edge.

His dismissal, however, failed to halt the progress of the South Africans as Wiaan Mulder collected his best Test score of 36 during a 75-run stand with Du Plessis, who then added 133 for the seventh wicket alongside Maharaj, another man that posted his best score at this level.

That partnership ended with the dismissal of the former skipper as he disappointingly struck Wanindu Hasaranga (4/171) straight to mid-on Dimuth Karunaratne having collected his 10th career ton and smashed his previous best Test score of 137 recorded against New Zealand at Port Elizabeth in 2012/13.

Maharaj unfortunately lacked the support to push on to three figures as the home side were eventually dismissed in 142.1 overs by a severely depleted and exhausted visiting attack.

Ngidi then cleaned up Karunaratne for six and also dislodged Kusal Mendis for a duck – both inside the first five overs – leaving the Sri Lankans on 22 for two.

But Kusal Perera (33) and Dinesh Chandimal (21) prevented any further damage, although the pair were left with a big job ahead on day four.
 
shaaik said:
Good to see Rameez Raja commentating on Super Sport.. I think part of a 3 year deal that Super Sport has with PCB..
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How much are the PCB paying Supersport? :tahir2

I doubt it works that way, as Ramiz isn't a PCB employee. It's more likely that they have roped him in as replacement for Michael Holding for the season.
 
The more I see of this Mulder kid, the more I'm so impressed. His bowling has come on in leaps and bounds and that's not even his strongest suit. I reckon he's good enough to play as a the 3rd seamer in South African conditions.
 
Perera's a bit of an enigma to me, he's just reached 50 in difficult conditions. He should really be averaging higher than 30 at test cricket. He's been shuffled up and down the order by the team management over the past few years, seems a waste of talent.
 
South Africa should include Mulder in their LO teams. They want someone who can bat in the top 6 and bowl. He can definitely fill that spot.
 
These injuries have crippled the Sri Lankans. There are extenuating circumstances with the quarantine requirements and lack of first-class cricket, so can't really blame Arthur and his staff that much.
 
RSA 621

SL 396 & 180

South Africa won by an innings and 45 runs

PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Faf du Plessis
 
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