South Africa requires eight wickets to clinch victory as Sri Lanka chases a 348-run target in the second Test at St George’s Park. By tea on day four, Sri Lanka stood at 60 for 2 after losing both openers. South Africa previously amassed 317 to set Sri Lanka a challenging record target, leading the series by 1-0.
GQEBERHA, South Africa – In the ongoing second Test, South Africa is on the verge of victory, requiring just eight wickets to defeat Sri Lanka, who are chasing a daunting target of 348 runs. By tea on the fourth day, Sri Lanka struggled at 60 for 2, having lost both their openers. After bowling out South Africa for 317, Sri Lanka now needs an additional 288 runs to close out the match and square the series.
Despite having ample time to chase down the target, Sri Lanka entered the field with an aggressive strategy. Unfortunately, both Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne fell victim to this approach. Nissanka, initially given out lbw to Marco Jansen, successfully reviewed the decision asserting that the delivery had pitched outside leg. However, Karunaratne was not as fortunate, being dismissed for a solitary run after failing to overturn a lbw call off Kagiso Rabada’s bowling.
Nissanka had a moment of promise with 18 runs, comprised of four boundaries, before an ill-fated attempt to chase a delivery outside off from Dane Paterson resulted in his dismissal. At the interval, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews remained at the crease, having accumulated 29 and 6 runs, respectively.
South Africa’s innings contributed a lead of 347 runs, thanks in part to Temba Bavuma’s performance, who top-scored with 66 runs. Bavuma’s remarkable consistency is apparent, as he has secured a century and three fifties in the series, though his challenge remains converting fifties into hundreds. The hosts suffered an unfortunate mix-up, resulting in Stubbs being run out for 47, leading to Bavuma’s eventual dismissal by Jayasuriya, who achieved his first five-wicket haul outside Sri Lanka during this match.
This scenario places South Africa in a favorable position after they previously triumphed over Sri Lanka by 233 runs in Durban in the first Test of the series, continuing to assert their dominance.
The second Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka is crucial for both teams. South Africa aims to maintain its winning momentum after a decisive victory in the first Test, while Sri Lanka seeks to equalize the series. The match’s target of 348 runs is particularly challenging, as it would represent a record successful chase for the venue. The performance of both teams’ bowlers is pivotal, especially noted bowler Prabath Jayasuriya’s outstanding five-wicket haul, which significantly influenced the match’s outcome.
In summary, South Africa is positioned to secure a significant victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka, requiring merely eight wickets. With Sri Lanka chasing a record target of 348 runs and already two wickets down, the match is leaning heavily in favor of the home side. This encounter not only reflects the competitive nature of both teams but also underscores the significance of individual performances, particularly those of Bavuma and Jayasuriya, in swaying the match’s direction.
Original Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
