Late strikes by Suranga Lakmal and Rangana Herath towards the end of the day triggered a fightback from Sri Lanka which prevented South Africa from walking away with the honours on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test at Port Elizabeth. Quinton de Kock (25*) and Vernon Philander (6*) will begin the proceedings with the bat on Day 2.
The hosts were 267 for six at stumps as Herath and Lakmal struck at regular intervals in the last session of the day. Faf du Plessis’s men were in a dominant position at tea when they went into the break on 174 for two before the visitors clawed their way back into the match. Lakmal, who was undoubtedly the most impressive bowler, started the fightback when he removed the experienced Hashim Amla for 20. The right-handed batsman, who has struggled to get going with the bat in recent times, chased a delivery which was just outside the off stump and nicked it to wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal.
Lakmal was ably supported by Herath as the veteran spinner dismissed a well-set JP Duminy for 63. The southpaw, who was finding it tough to score against Lakmal, tried to play an ambitious sweep shot off the bowling of the veteran spinner but missed the line of the ball and it went on to hit him on his pads. The Sri Lankan fielders went up in unison and the umpire showed little hesitation in raising his fingers. However, Duminy was not convinced with the decision and reviewed it only to lose it. Temba Bavuma was dismissed shortly thereafter for 3, again a victim of an lbw decision off the bowling of Herath. The umpires initially gave the decision in the batsman’s favour but the visitors wasted little time in reviewing it and the decision went in their favour.
Lakmal capped off the fine fightback by dismissing South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis on 37 to pick up his fourth wicket. De Kock and Philander then saw off the remaining overs to help their team prevent any further setback.
The final session undid the fine work done by the South Africa’s top order batsmen. Stephen Cook and Dean Elgar gave the hosts a flying start by adding 104 runs for the first wicket before the former was dismissed by Lakmal when he edged a delivery to Chandimal behind the stumps. One run later, Elgar departed in the same manner after scoring 45. Duminy played a string of cover drives to push the bowler on the back foot but the scenario completely changed once he was dismissed after the tea.