Sri Lanka steady in second Test against South Africa

Rex Clementine in Port Elizabeth

The first-innings foundation has been Sri Lanka’s Achilles’ heel for months – a mantra oft-repeated but rarely upheld. However, under the sunny skies of Port Elizabeth, the visitors finally walked the talk, reaching a promising 103 for one at tea on day two of the second Test.

The ghosts of Durban, where Sri Lanka crumbled like a house of cards for a mere 42 runs, seemed to haunt them early on. Yet, their approach this time was chalk and cheese. They weathered the storm during the first hour, a stark departure from their usual gung-ho style. If they can push South Africa’s quicks beyond their third spells, batting on day three could become a stroll in the park.

Dimuth Karunaratne, the former skipper, epitomized discipline, leaving anything that strayed outside off-stump. He appeared set to make hay while the sun shone, but a lapse in concentration saw him chasing a wide delivery from Kagiso Rabada, only to edge it behind.

For Karunaratne, the pressure is mounting. A Test century has eluded him this year, and his modest average of 32 after ten matches leaves much to be desired. The weight of expectation hangs over him like a dark cloud, and a big knock is overdue.

Pathum Nissanka and Dinesh Chandimal dug in, surviving a few hairy moments before tea. The pair has a mountain to climb, especially as Sri Lanka aim for a first-innings lead on a pitch expected to crack and crumble by day four.

Chandimal, despite his gritty second-innings effort in Durban, looked like a fish out of water against the pace attack. On the other hand, Nissanka showed poise, leaving well and defending stoutly, offering a glimmer of hope for the visitors.

Earlier, Sri Lanka’s bowlers had their tails up, hoping to mop up the South African innings before they breached the 300-run mark. But those hopes went up in smoke as the pacers fell into the short-ball trap, playing right into South Africa’s hands.

The quicks managed to send Keshav Maharaj back for a duck, but Kyle Verreynne’s masterclass with the bat turned the tables. His audacious stroke play was poetry in motion, and his unbeaten 105 off 133 balls, laced with 12 fours and three sixes, left Sri Lanka licking their wounds.

Verreynne’s crucial partnerships with Kagiso Rabada (56 runs) and Dane Paterson (33 for the last wicket) ensured South Africa pushed the total beyond the 350 mark, leaving Sri Lanka to rue missed opportunities.

Lahiru Kumara was the pick of the bowlers, bagging four wickets, while Asitha Fernando and Vishwa Fernando shared five scalps between them. But the inability to finish off the tail took the wind out of Sri Lanka’s sails.

from The Island https://ift.tt/8BvJURK