Sri Lanka overcame a stiff resistance put up by the South African batsmen riding on Rangana Herath’s six for 98 to win the second and final Test in Colombo the by 199 runs.
As a result, the hosts complete a clean sweep winning the series by a 2-0 margin. Needing 351 runs at the start of the fourth day after Sri Lanka had set them 490 to win, South Africa got all out for 290 early in the second session.
However, Theunis de Bruyn (101) and Temba Bavuma (63) tried their best to resist the loss. South Africa had managed just 124 runs in their first innings in reply to Sri Lanka’s 338, and the hosts had declared their second essay on 275/5.
De Bruyn and Bavuma dominated the hosts for the most part of the opening session. The duo added 123 runs for the fifth wicket before Bavuma departed. De Bruyn brought up his maiden Test half-century off 118 balls, while Bavuma brought up his fifty off 69 balls.
The pair negated Sri Lanka’s spinner and forced Suranga Lakmal to bring himself into the attack for the first time in this Test match. De Bruyn, at the other end, looked comfortable during his stay, using the depth of the crease to full effect. However, Bavuma survived when Sri Lanka reviewed the not out lbw decision off Dilruwan Perera.
They brought up their 50-run partnership off 87 balls and the 100-run partnership off 182 balls and took the team past 150 and 200 in the process. But it was only a matter of time before Sri Lanka broke through.
Bavuma’s wicket led to another, as Quinton de Kock followed him of Herath to reduce the visitors to 246 for seven at lunch. Since then, it was a cakewalk for the hosting nation, as the bowlers didn’t offer much resistance. Meanwhile, de Bruyn brought his hundred before this paddling one off Herath.
Meanwhile, he got out immediately after that playing for the turn. Rabada went immediately after and Steyn was the last man to fall, also to Herath.
As a result, Sri Lanka completed a clean sweep beating South Africa by 2-0 margin.
Brief Score:
Sri Lanka 338 (Dhananjaya de Silva 60; Keshav Maharaj 9-129) & 275/5 dec. (Dimuth Karunartne 85; Keshav Maharaj 3-154) beat South Africa 124 (Faf du Plessis 48; Akila Dananjaya 5-52) & 290 (Theunis de Bruyn 101; Rangana Hearth 6-98) by 199 runs.
Here is how the Twitter reacted:
Congratulations @OfficialSLC Very good performance… very hard to beat at home and totally dominated SA #SLvSA
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) July 23, 2018
Another crushing defeat for the Proteas… 2-0 series loss. How they went into this match with one recognized spinner will forever remain one of this worlds mysteries… #SLvSA
— Tracksuit (@ThabisoMosia) July 23, 2018
Suranga Lakmal is only the 12th captain to win a Test match without scoring a run, taking a wicket and 0 catches/stumpings. #SLvSA
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) July 23, 2018
The two Sri Lankans who have captained their sides to victories in their first three Test matches are both bowlers!
– Rangana Herath and Suranga Lakmal#SLvSA— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) July 23, 2018
Sri Lanka take the series 2-0 and definitely deserve the win
The better of the two sides by far #SLvSA— Natalie Germanos ? (@NatalieGermanos) July 23, 2018
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