South African captain Temba Bavuma said his side’s 109-run win in the second Test against Sri Lanka at St George’s Park on Monday was a big step forward for a largely inexperienced group of players. “For a lot of the guys it was a true introduction to what Test cricket is all about,” Bavuma said of the close match that began on day five. “It’s rare that you get to play for five days, and it’s also rare that the game is always in balance. There were times when we were on top and times when Sri Lanka gained momentum on their side.”
The victory put South Africa at the top of the World Test Championship table, which is based on scoring average.
South Africa can be confident of reaching the final of Lord’s in England next June if they beat Pakistan in the two-match series starting December 26.
“The championship table looks good,” Bavuma said during the post-match presentation. “We see ourselves as number one and we have two more games left. I don’t know what the math looks like, but we’re playing good cricket and we want to keep it that way.”
Bavuma was named player of the series after scoring 327 runs in four innings, including a century and three fifties, but said other people in the team made big contributions.
Three South Africans made centuries and three bowlers took five-wicket hauls, including the left-arm spinner. Keshav Maharajwho needed five out of 76 to seal victory on Monday.
“When guys have productive games, it’s always a good sign. It shows the hunger and desire of the team.”
Sri Lanka Captain Dhananjaya de Silva said his team improved their performance in Durban, where they were bowled out for 233 runs after being bowled out for 42 in the first innings.
“The boys fought as hard as they could, but it wasn’t enough,” De Silva said. “The bowling attack that kept South Africa asking questions.”
De Silva said Sri Lanka is improving in away Test matches. “We’re getting better, but we need to get 100 percent better in every department,” he said.
Sri Lanka lost their remaining five wickets for 33 runs on Monday.
Their hopes of an upset victory faded when overnight batsmen De Silva and Where in Mendi were dismissed within the first 10 overs of the day.
De Silva and Mendis, the last established batsmen in the team, resumed at 205 for five with 143 runs still needed for victory.
Maharaj made the first breakthrough when Mendis caught the ball underneath. Aiden Markram when sliding. He scored 46 runs for a 97-run sixth-wicket partnership with De Silva.
Kagiso Rabada De Silva was then caught behind for 50, exposing the Sri Lankan tail.
The last three wickets fell quickly and Maharaj claimed two more scalps and Marco Jansen finished the match with his first goal of the day when Lahiru Kumara was caught in wild tediousness.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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