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Sri Lanka tour of South Africa (2024) - Discussion Thread

South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test​

RSA 191 & 366/5 d
SL 42 & 103/5 (31)
Day 3: Stumps - Sri Lanka need 413 runs
 
FearlessRoar said:

South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test​

RSA 191 & 366/5 d
SL 42 & 103/5 (31)
Day 3: Stumps - Sri Lanka need 413 runs
Click to expand...

South Africa Tightens Grip as Sri Lanka Stumbles Chasing 516​

South Africa asserted dominance on day three of the first Test at Kingsmead, leaving Sri Lanka in deep trouble at 103 for 5, needing another 413 runs to secure an improbable victory. The day revolved around Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs, whose masterful centuries laid the foundation for a massive lead before the Proteas’ quick bowlers dismantled Sri Lanka’s top order.

Bavuma and Stubbs shared a 249-run stand, matching the record for the fourth wicket at Kingsmead. Bavuma’s third Test ton, his second as captain, came with drama as Sri Lanka’s review briefly delayed his celebration before technology confirmed the faintest glove touch. Stubbs, meanwhile, was composed in reaching his second century and survived a close lbw appeal. Their efforts helped South Africa declare at 366 for 5, setting a daunting 516-run target.

Sri Lanka's batters faltered under pressure and inconsistent bounce. Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada struck repeatedly, leaving South Africa just five wickets away from a comprehensive win in this crucial World Test Championship clash.
 
Day 4: 1st Session - Sri Lanka need 346 runs

170/5 (48.2) CRR: 3.52

Saffers are heading towards a victory here
 
sri lanka play spin really well
if india pick useless rohit and kohli in lanka tour next time, we will lose for sure. we need to back our youngster beauties to win there.

they are really adept vs spin
 
South Africa should finish this game in the next session.

Day 4: Lunch Break - Sri Lanka need 296 runs

RSA 191 & 366/5 d
SL 42 & 220/6 (63) CRR: 3.49
 

South Africa beat Sri Lanka in first test​


South Africa had to overcome determined resistance from Sri Lanka's batsmen before winning the first test by 233 runs at Kingsmead on Saturday.

Set a massive 516 runs to win, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 282.

Left-arm fast bowler Marco Jansen, the destroyer in Sri Lanka's record-low first innings of 42, took four for 73 to finish with match figures of 11 for 86.

In contrast to the first innings, the tourists made the South Africans work for their wickets on Saturday.

Dinesh Chandimal (83) and captain Dhananjaya de Silva (59) put on 95 for the sixth wicket and kept South Africa in the field for most of the morning after resuming at 101 for five.

The breakthrough for South Africa came when De Silva chipped a catch to midwicket off left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj.

Kusal Mendis made an attacking 48 before he became Jansen's 10th victim of the match, caught behind by Kyle Verreynne.

Chandimal and De Silva took advantage of the best batting conditions of the match against bowlers who were not as effective as they had been when the ball was shiny and new.

South Africa were also without allrounder Wiaan Mulder, who was ruled out of the rest of the series with a broken finger.

Chandimal, who was 29 not out overnight, continued to defy the bowlers on the ground where he marked his test debut with two half-centuries 13 years ago. He made his 83 off 174 balls before being caught and bowled by Gerald Coetzee.

supersport.com

DAY 4: South Africa beat Sri Lanka in first test | SuperSport

South Africa had to overcome determined resistance from Sri Lanka's batsmen before winning the first test by 233 runs at Kingsmead on Saturday.
supersport.com supersport.com
 
South Africa's injury woes deepen, speedster in doubt for second Test

Earlier, Wiaan Mulder had been ruled out of the ongoing series after picking up a niggle on day two of the Durban Test.

South Africa were dealt another injury blow following their win against Sri Lanka in Durban as pacer Gerald Coetzee sustained a groin niggle on Day 4.

The blow comes after all-rounder Wiaan Mulder was already deemed out for the remainder of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka after sustaining a fractured right middle finger.

Addressing the injury issues, skipper Temba Bavuma said, "Wiaan is out of the series, [and] we have to find a replacement. [For] Gerald Coetzee, the medical team will have do to their best."

During the first innings, Mulder was struck on the lower hand while batting and subsequent X-rays confirmed the fracture. Mulder remained unbeaten on 9 in his side’s 191.

Batter Matthew Breetzke, who made his Test debut against Bangladesh last month, has been named as Mulder’s replacement for the second match, scheduled from 5 to 9 December at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.

An underwhelming batting performance from the visitors has South Africa in pole position in the first Test, after Sri Lanka were bundled out for just 42 in their first innings, courtesy of a cracking seven-wicket haul from Marco Jansen.

Both teams remain in the race to make it to the WTC Final in June. While South Africa need a clean sweep at home to increase their chances, the visitors will have to grab at least a game in the two-match Test series to boost their own chances of making it to the Lord's.

ICC
 

South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test​


South Africa have won the toss and have opted to bat

Teams:

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva(c), Kusal Mendis(w), Prabath Jayasuriya, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara

South Africa (Playing XI): Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma(c), David Bedingham, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne(w), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson
 
2nd Test, Day 1 – Tea: South Africa 179-4 in their 1st Innings against Sri Lanka
 
2nd Test Match at Port Elizabeth - Day 1

South Africa: 269/7 (Stumps)
Sri Lanka: Yet to bat

------------------------------------------------------------------

Ryan Rickelton's Maiden Test Century Highlights Balanced Opening Day in Port Elizabeth

Ryan Rickelton registered his first Test hundred in his eighth appearance, becoming the eighth South African batter to score a century in 2024. The opening day at St George's Park ended evenly poised.

South Africa, batting first in windy conditions, stumbled to 44/3 in the morning session. However, a crucial 133-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Rickelton and Temba Bavuma, who recorded his third consecutive fifty-plus score, put them back in control. At 186/5, they faced another wobble before Rickelton and Kyle Verreynne steadied the innings with a 77-run stand for the sixth wicket. Two late dismissals left South Africa at 269/7, with Sri Lanka hoping to restrict them below 300 and capitalize on favorable batting conditions on day two.

Sri Lanka, who would have chosen to bowl on a grassy pitch, performed admirably after South Africa opted to bat. Asitha Fernando and Vishwa Fernando found early movement, while Lahiru Kumara’s aggressive short-ball spells caused trouble. Although the bowlers weren’t fully supported by the fielders, with two catches dropped and others falling short, their efforts on a pitch expected to favor batters were commendable.
 
South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test at Gqeberha

Lunch

South Africa 358
Sri Lanka (6 ov) 19/0
 

South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test​


RSA 358

SL 103/1 (33)

Day 2: Tea Break - Sri Lanka trail by 255 runs
 
Sri Lanka have batted quite well in this test match. Barring a typically Sri Lankan collapse or a big mess-up they are in the driver's seat.

If they continue batting well in this test I feel it will lead to South Africa retaliating with greentops in the Pakistan series.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
Sri Lanka have batted quite well in this test match. Barring a typically Sri Lankan collapse or a big mess-up they are in the driver's seat.

If they continue batting well in this test I feel it will lead to South Africa retaliating with greentops in the Pakistan series.
Click to expand...

Yup. Much better batting performance in this Test.

Anyway, they are still 255 runs behind.
 
SA are missing that 4th pacer. Doesn't help that their 3rd seamer is bowling between 119-125 kph.

It's what happens when Coetzee, Ngidi, Nortje, Burger are all unavailable for various reasons.
 
The 109-run stand between Pathum Nissanka and Dinesh Chandimal is the first century stand for the second wicket by any visiting side in South Africa since 2014.
 

South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test​


RSA 358
SL 242/3 (67)

Day 2: Stumps - Sri Lanka trail by 116 runs

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sri Lanka battles back after Verreynne's stunning century

Dimuth Karunaratne fell victim to Kagiso Rabada for the third time this series, edging behind the stumps, but Sri Lanka bounced back in the second session to reach 103 for 1 at tea. This resilient effort came after they faced a challenging opening spell and still trail South Africa by 255 runs, largely due to Kyle Verreynne's outstanding century earlier in the day.

Resuming the day at 269 for 7, Verreynne powered South Africa to an additional 89 runs alongside Rabada and Dane Paterson. The right-hander turned an overnight score of 48 off 83 balls into a sensational 106, smashing bouncers to all parts of the ground while cleverly managing the strike. His late flurry included multiple boundaries and two towering sixes, one of which brought up his century. His emotional celebration featured a bow to the dressing room and a hearty embrace with Paterson.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, displayed grit with the bat for the first time in the series, negotiating 33 overs while losing just one wicket—a stark improvement compared to earlier performances. Openers Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka weathered a fiery spell from South Africa's pacers before lunch. Nissanka was dropped on 22 after edging a short delivery from Rabada, but he and Dinesh Chandimal began to find the boundary more frequently as the session progressed.

Nissanka ended the session unbeaten on 41 off 101 balls, showing strength on the pull shot, with three of his six boundaries coming from that stroke. Chandimal, on the other hand, rode his luck with edges accounting for most of his five boundaries, finishing on 29 not out off 55 balls.

Karunaratne, who looked solid initially, succumbed midway through the second session while attempting to cut a delivery too close to his body from Rabada, who remains a thorn in Sri Lanka's batting lineup.

Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka struggled to clean up South Africa's tail, relying heavily on short-pitched bowling. Verreynne, after losing Maharaj early, formed a vital 66-run stand with Rabada before launching an all-out assault. He dispatched Asitha Fernando for three consecutive boundaries to build momentum and brought up his hundred with a massive six over fine leg, leaving Sri Lanka frustrated despite their valiant efforts.

As the match unfolds, Sri Lanka will look to build on their solid foundation and inch closer to South Africa's commanding total.
 
SL is well and truly back in the international cricket. All their batsman look so composed compared to lot of Indians who look shaky and impatient.
 
SL is batting well here. If collapse does not happen then they will be in a strong position.
 
Nikhil_cric said:
SA are missing that 4th pacer. Doesn't help that their 3rd seamer is bowling between 119-125 kph.

It's what happens when Coetzee, Ngidi, Nortje, Burger are all unavailable for various reasons.
Click to expand...
Coetze is 135 to 145 on average
Ngidi is a trundler now
129 to 137 Max
Nortje yea is rapid. 138 to 146

Burger is 135 to 144
 
Still Sri Lanka trail by 116 runs. This game could be heading towards a draw if South African batters do their job
 
Good pitch when both teams can score 300-350 in the 1st inns. Better than some of the recent SA surfaces where batting becomes a lottery.

Looks like we're headed towards a one innings shootout.
 
Watching the highlights from yesterday - Pathum Nissanka took on the short ball well. Should've scored a hundred.
 
South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test

RSA 358
SL 318/8 (94)

Day 3: Lunch Break - Sri Lanka trail by 40 runs
 
FearlessRoar said:
South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test

RSA 358
SL 318/8 (94)

Day 3: Lunch Break - Sri Lanka trail by 40 runs
Click to expand...
2nd Test, Day 3 - Innings Break: Sri Lanka posted 328 all out in their 1st innings & trail South Africa by 30 runs
 
Highest chase at this ground is 271 by Australia in 1997.

Sri Lanka have the highest 4th inns score though - 281 in 2016. But they need to run through this batting lineup quick.
 

South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test​


DAY 3 - STUMPS

South Africa lead by 221 runs with Temba Bavuma (48*) and Tristan Stubbs (36*) in the middle. They have posted a partnership of 82* (155).

SL 328

SA 358 & 191/3 (55)
 
South Africa lead by 273 runs now.

Still 6 wickets in hand... Day 4.

Should get around 370-400
 
Sri Lanka have done a good job in this game as well.

I think they can win it now.

Day 4: Lunch Break - South Africa lead by 312 runs
SL 328
RSA 358 & 282/8 (82) CRR: 3.44
 
Jayasuria has had a decent series makes me think we have to go with Chacha Noman

Khurram, Hamza, Chacha and Jamal will be my attack
 
@Ab Fan
Now that prabath Jayasuriya has a 5fer in SA, mominsaigol will say he is better than ashwin.

Cause pitches were the same ones offered to India surely. Lel
 
What's happened to Dane Paterson?

He was once a 140kph+ athletic bowler and now bowls at 125-130kph and runs in like he's knackered and doesn't look fit enough.

But it seems like at 35, he's found something which is line and length and bowls wicket to wicket and has picked up wickets.

Could be a handful against Pakistan soon.
 
No score above 271 has been chased in Port Elizabeth in it's history.

Lanka has an impossible task as soon as South Africa took a first innings lead
 
Xoib said:
Jayasuria has had a decent series makes me think we have to go with Chacha Noman

Khurram, Hamza, Chacha and Jamal will be my attack
Click to expand...

Port Elizabeth had the most turn out of all Saffer pitches and even then it started gripping only around the time of Bavuma's wicket.


If you have the seamers , you should play 4 of them.
 
Still a glimmer of hope for SL going into the final day. Fantastic Test match.
 

South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test​

RSA 358 & 317
SL 328 & 205/5 (52)

Day 4: Stumps - Sri Lanka need 143 runs
 
FearlessRoar said:

South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test​

RSA 358 & 317
SL 328 & 205/5 (52)

Day 4: Stumps - Sri Lanka need 143 runs
Click to expand...
South Africa sees strong progress towards series whitewash as Sri Lanka struggles in Gqeberha

South Africa took significant steps toward a series whitewash, setting Sri Lanka a daunting target of 348 runs. Despite an unbroken 83-run stand between Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka still needs 143 more runs with five wickets in hand. The threat of the second new ball and tricky morning conditions loom large.

Earlier, South Africa's bowlers, led by Keshav Maharaj, dismissed Sri Lanka’s top five, leaving them struggling at 122 for 5. Prabath Jayasuriya's 5-wicket haul wasn’t enough to halt South Africa’s progress, and their tail added valuable runs. Sri Lanka now faces a tough task to avoid defeat on the final day.
 
South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test

RSA 358 & 317
SL 328 & 238

Day 5: 1st Session - South Africa won by 109 runs
 
FearlessRoar said:
South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test

RSA 358 & 317
SL 328 & 238

Day 5: 1st Session - South Africa won by 109 runs
Click to expand...

Temba Bavuma inspires 2-0 sweep as Proteas close in on WTC final​


South Africa continued their dream run in Test cricket, inching closer to the World Test Championship 2023-25 final. The Proteas outclassed Sri Lanka in a hard-fought second Test at the St George's Park in Gqeberha on Monday, December 9 to complete a 2-0 win of the series at home. South Africa have stitched a five-match winning run in 2024 to sprint ahead of the competition in the race to the WTC final.

South Africa returned to the top of the World Test Championship table, overtaking Australia who hammered India by 10 wickets in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide on Sunday, December 8.

Temba Bavuma's return to the side proved fruitful as the South African captain hit a hundred and three fifties in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka. Bavuma missed South Africa's 2-0 win in Bangladesh, but he stormed back to peak form, hurting the Sri Lankans in the two Tests.

While South Africa hammered Sri Lanka by 233 runs in Kingsmead in Durban, it was a closely fought affair in the second Test.

The match began with South Africa choosing to bat first in blustery conditions at St George's Park. The initial session saw South Africa struggle, slumping to 44 for 3 against aggressive Sri Lankan bowling. However, a pivotal 133-run partnership between Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma turned the tide. Rickelton, playing in only his eighth Test, scored his maiden Test century, reaching 101 off 231 deliveries. This innings, combined with Bavuma's 78 and a crucial 77-run stand between Rickelton and Kyle Verreynne for the sixth wicket, helped South Africa post a competitive 269 for 7 by the end of the first day.

Verreynne went on to hit a hundred and pushed South Africa's first innings total to 358.In response, Sri Lanka managed to score 328 runs in their first innings. Pathum Nissanka was the standout performer for the visitors, contributing a solid 89 runs. South Africa's bowling attack was led by Dane Paterson, who took five wickets, making sure Sri Lanka did not get a first-innings lead.

South Africa shone in the second innings with the bat, posting 317 runs, with notable contributions from Temba Bavuma, who scored 66 runs, and Tristan Stubbs with 47 runs. Prabath Jayasuriya from Sri Lanka was the most successful bowler in this innings, taking five wickets. Despite Jayasuriya's efforts, South Africa set a challenging target for the visitors.

In their second innings, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 238 runs in 69.1 overs. Keshav Maharaj was the hero with the ball for South Africa, claiming five wickets and playing a pivotal role in dismantling the Sri Lankan batting lineup. South Africa's bowlers maintained a tight grip throughout, ensuring Sri Lanka's chase was thwarted effectively.

www.indiatoday.in

SA vs SL, 2nd Test: Temba Bavuma inspires 2-0 sweep as Proteas close in on WTC final

South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test: Keshav Maharaj spun a web around the Sri Lankan batters as South Africa successfully defended a 348-run target to win the 2nd Test and complete a 2-0 win. Temba Bavuma led from the front scoring a hundred and three fifties in the series.
www.indiatoday.in www.indiatoday.in
 
Textbook Test match pitch. 300 scored in each of the first 3 innings. Lead spinners for each team taking 5-fers in the last 2 innings.

Surface offered home advantage to SA without it being extreme.

Well done to the curator.

SA one step closer to reaching WTC Final.
 
Bavuma likes what he sees as Proteas inch closer to Lord's Test decider

The experienced skipper knows there is still work to do for his side before they clinch a place in next year's one-off Test.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma is taking nothing for granted as his side inched closer to a maiden berth in the ICC World Test Championship Final with an impressive series sweep over Sri Lanka.

The Proteas moved to the top of the World Test Championship standings with an 109-run triumph over Sri Lanka in Gqeberha on Monday and are now just one Test victory away from earning their place in the 2025 ultimate Test at Lord's.

Bavuma's side has two more Tests remaining this cycle to clinch their place in the one-off Test and need just one win from their two-match series at home against Pakistan that commences later this month to ensure they feature in the match.

But Bavuma knows there is still work to do and is not contemplating a spot in the final until his side has it cemented.

“The championship table looks good,” Bavuma admitted after the victory over Sri Lanka.

“We see ourselves at number one with two games to go. I don’t know what the maths looks like but we’re playing good cricket and we want it to continue.”

Bavuma was named Player of the Series against Sri Lanka after he managed 327 runs across four innings, but the Proteas had a number of major contributors that included young batter Tristan Stubbs (187 runs), all-rounder Marco Jansen (14 wickets) and spinner Keshav Maharaj (nine scalps).

“For a lot of the guys it was a proper taste of what Test cricket is about,” Bavuma said.

“It’s rare when you get to play for five days and it’s also rare when the game is always in the balance. There were times when we were on top and times when Sri Lanka were getting the momentum on their side.”

Sri Lanka remain in contention for a spot in the World Test Championship decider, although the Asian side will need to win both their remaining fixtures against Australia next year and rely on other results going in their favour.

Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva was proud of the efforts of his side in South Africa, but rued some costly mistakes at crucial times as the team fell short of claiming a rare away victory.

“The guys fought hard but it was not good enough,” de Silva said.

“The bowling attack that South Africa had kept asking questions.

“We’re getting better but we need to be 100 percent better in every department."

ICC
 
Jayasuriya laments batting failures after Sri Lanka's series defeat to Proteas

Sri Lanka's dreams of reaching the ICC World Test Championship final have taken a severe hit following a 2-0 series defeat in South Africa.

Valiant efforts from Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis went in vain as Sri Lanka succumbed to defeat by 109 runs on the final day of the second Test against the Proteas.

Despite playing at venues that traditionally offer conditions favorable to their playing style - Durban and Gqeberha - the visitors struggled to mount a serious challenge, compared to their historic victory in 2019, when they cleansweeped the Proteas in a two-Test series.

Head coach Sanath Jayasuriya attributed the loss to missed opportunities with the bat, particularly the inability to convert good starts into big scores.

This was most evident in the first innings at Gqeberha, where all of the top five batters managed at least 20 runs, but only one crossed 50. Even Pathum Nissanka, who top-scored with 89, failed to capitalize and reach his third three-figure score in Tests.

“Batsmen have to convert their scores into hundreds - 30s and 40s aren’t enough. It’s tough on these wickets, but at least two batters have to score hundreds on a tour like this. We didn’t get that. All we got were two 80s," Jayasuriya said.

He added, “I think the batters by now know the value of hundreds on the road, having played in a place like England recently as well. We missed that this time. Although there was a lot of effort from the senior batters, I think if they assess themselves individually, they will realise it wasn’t enough.”

The series also marked a setback for Kamindu Mendis, whose early performances in the longest format had been extraordinary. Entering the series with an average of 91.27, Mendis managed scores of 13, 10, 48, and 35 off the four innings, dropping his average to 74.

Sharing his views on the 26-year-old, Jayasuriya said, “Kamindu Mendis is a key player. In every Test match almost he was in the runs, aside from this series. If you saw the way he batted in this series, it was still with a lot of confidence. You can’t expect a batter to hit 50 or 100 every innings - that’s why you have six or seven batters.

“As a player, he’s a quality player. If he’s got shortcomings, he works with the batting coach to figure those out.

“I know that oppositions are quite concerned, and South Africa were as well. Now, he will have to work hard to counter that. But I love watching a player like him in the team - he scores at a run-a-ball and plays positively. What I’ve told everyone is to play their natural game and play positive cricket."

Jayasuriya also highlighted the second morning, where South Africa’s tailenders added 89 runs to stretch their first-innings total as a pivotal moment in the Gqeberha Test that contributed to Sri Lanka’s loss.

“In that first innings, after we got eight or nine wickets, we let them have roughly 40 runs too many,” he remarked.

Another turning point came on the third morning when Sri Lanka lost five wickets, having begun the day with seven wickets in hand and trailing by just 116 runs.

“We couldn’t afford those wickets. We could have got a big first-innings lead, and we let the match slip a bit on that morning.”

Further opportunities slipped away on the fourth day when South Africa’s lower order added 35 runs to their second-innings total after being 282 for 8 at lunch. Additionally, Sri Lanka lost two quick wickets after reaching a promising score of 117 with seven wickets in hand.

“That 25-30 extra runs from their tail also hurt us in the second innings. In the second innings, we gave two extra wickets in the evening session. If we’d had the chance to come in today only three down, that would have made a big difference to our batting unit. It’s in those little places that it got away from us,” Jayasuriya concluded.

ICC
 
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