SA vs SL: South Africa won the second Test by 109 runs against Sri Lanka, which sealed a 2-0 series victory. The win was made possible by a commanding performance that turned the tide of the Test series. The hero of the victory was South Africa’s left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj who bowled his way to deliver a match-winning performance with the ball, taking seven wickets across both innings.
His destructive spell, particularly in Sri Lanka’s chase of a challenging target in the fourth innings, played a pivotal role in ensuring South Africa’s dominance and a series victory.
A Historic 7-Wicket Performance in the SA vs SL Test
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Keshav Maharaj almost became a nemesis for Sri Lanka’s batting. In the second innings, Sri Lanka had a mountainous target of 348 runs to achieve. Here it was Maharaj who took over the reins and wreaked havoc. His spin bowling, described as a “mystery” many times for its unpredictable bounce and turn, was too much for Sri Lanka’s batsmen to handle.
Maharaj was successful with five wickets in the second innings of Sri Lanka, and it finished at 5/76 for him. His scalps were key players like Kamindu Mendis with 35, Kusal Mendis with 46, Prabath Jayasuriya with 9, Vishwa Fernando with 5, and Angelo Mathews with 32. These wickets really shattered the hopes of chasing down the target for Sri Lanka, as they were bowled out for just 238 runs, falling way short of the required total.
This outstanding 7-wicket performance in the match marks the fourth time Maharaj has taken a five-wicket haul in the fourth innings of a Test, further cementing his reputation as a match-winner in the longest format of the game. His heroics ensured South Africa claimed victory by a resounding margin, securing a 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka.
South Africa Dominated the Match
In the Test match, South Africa put up a solid all-round performance against the backdrop of the ongoing race for a place in the ICC World Test Championship final. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, South Africa posted a strong total of 358 runs.
The highlight of their innings was a well-played 101-run knock by Ryan Rickelton, ably supported by an unbeaten 105 from Kyle Verreyne and a composed 78 from skipper Temba Bavuma. Sri Lanka bowlers fought hard; with Lahiru Kumara taking four wickets and Asitha Fernando claiming three, but they could not check the flow of runs.
While replying, Sri Lanka showed resilience but fell short by 30 runs, managing only 328 runs. Despite a fine 78 from Dimuth Karunaratne and a gritty 63 from Dinesh Chandimal, Sri Lanka’s batting lacked the much-needed depth and consistency, so as to overturn the South African total.
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As far as South African bowling is concerned, Dan Peterson (5/71) made a lot of effort for his side along with Marco Jansen and Maharaj. Sri Lanka never gained momentum to cross the South African total.
In South Africa’s second innings, they declared at 317, with Rassie van der Dussen scoring 67 runs. Sri Lanka’s bowling, especially by Prabath Jayasuriya, who took 5/129, put up a good fight, but the total was still too much to chase down. Jayasuriya’s efforts, though commendable, could not prevent the inevitable collapse in the fourth innings.
Sri Lanka’s Demise in the Chase
With a target of 348 runs, Sri Lanka knew they were up against it. Even with a strong start, where Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews provided some resistance, the mounting pressure from Maharaj’s spin and the quality seam bowling of South Africa proved too much.
After the fall of the top order, Sri Lanka found themselves in a deep hole. The defining moment was Maharaj’s spell as he dismissed the key players and broke the back of Sri Lanka’s chase.
The batting line-up of Sri Lanka crumbled under pressure, and they were eventually bowled out for 238. The defeat resulted in Sri Lanka not only losing the match but also the series, going down 2-0.
Impact on the ICC World Test Championship Standings
This SA vs SL Test series win was important to South Africa, not only due to the comprehensive victory against Sri Lanka but also its implications in the race to the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final. This win has taken South Africa to the top spot of the WTC table, racking up 63.33 points, and it surpassed the leadership it temporarily occupied by Australia earlier.
Australia is now second in the standings, and South Africa will be looking to ride on this momentum as they go for a spot in the WTC final.
Keshav Maharaj’s excellent seven-wicket haul was the pick of the bunch in South Africa’s comprehensive win over Sri Lanka, which meant the team secured not only in the SA vs SL series but also a massive leap up the World Test Championship ladder.
His control with the ball in the fourth innings, along with South Africa’s all-round performance, especially from the bat of Rickelton and Verreyne, has set up South Africa for further continued pressure for a place in the WTC final. Sri Lanka will have to regroup from this heavy defeat, taking lessons from their failed chase and batting inconsistencies.
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