The Proteas wrapped up a 2-0 series win on Day 3 of the second Test against Sri Lanka, with a 10-wicket win at the Wanderers, writes Khalid Mohidin.
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Sri Lanka started Day 3 on 150-4 with a lead of 5. Their captain Dimuth Karunaratne ended day 2 on 91, with the aim of reaching his first century since 14 August 2019 when he scored 122 against New Zealand.
He reached his 10th Test century early in the first session to a roar of support from the Sri Lanka dugout.
Anrich Nortje got the necessary breakthrough, the crucial one. He hit the deck hard with a shorter delivery, cramping Karunaratne’s space. His pull shot popped high into the air to Wiaan Mulder at square leg.
It was the setup up leading to the wicket that was key to the dismissal. Two short deliveries from around the stumps – one that forced the left-hander to jump and play off his hips towards the leg side; the second at chest height which hit the handle and the gloves.
Sri Lanka gifted Lungi Ngidi his 4th wicket, when Niroshan Dickwella loosely swiped at a full delivery which hit the edge and skied to Temba Bavuma at mid-off. He finished with figures of 4-44.
Wiaan Mulder piled on Sri Lanka’s misery, with
Wiaan Mulder increased Sri Lanka’s misery, with the wicket of Dasun Shanaka, when he chipped a straight delivery to Sipamla at mid-on.
Sipamla (3-40) was brought into the attack and he trapped Hasaranga de Silva (16) superbly. He beat the outside edge by millimetres with an inswinger on the 4th ball of his 9th over, and then followed it up with an identical delivery which crashed into the stumps. Sri Lanka reduced to 209-8.
His 10th over, saw him find an outside tickle with an outswinger to take Sri Lanka to 210-9 and then another two balls later knocked over the top of Asitha Fernando’s off stump with a beautiful inswinger to skittle Sri Lanka for 211.
The Proteas needed 67 runs to win the match and the series 2-0.
Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar chased down the required runs with ease, as the Proteas completed a simple victory with two and a half days remaining.
Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
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