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    South Africa Takes Command at Kingsmead
South Africa Takes Command at Kingsmead
Cricket Match. Source: Midjourney

South Africa Takes Command at Kingsmead

South Africa seized control of the Test match at Kingsmead on November 28, after a whirlwind second day when 19 wickets fell, leaving Sri Lanka reeling. Bowled out for a mere 42 runs—their lowest Test total ever—Sri Lanka set an unwanted record for the shortest innings against South Africa, lasting just 83 balls. Marco Jansen spearheaded the Proteas’ relentless pace attack, claiming an astonishing 7 for 13 in just 41 deliveries, equalling the fewest balls required in history to achieve a seven-wicket haul. South Africa’s first-innings lead of 149 runs expanded to 281 by stumps, thanks to a steady partnership between Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs.

Despite clear skies and sunny conditions, the pitch continued to offer considerable movement, challenging batters throughout the day. South Africa resumed their innings at 80 for 4 and were in dire straits at 117 for 7, threatening to register their lowest score against Sri Lanka. However, Bavuma’s gritty 70 and valuable lower-order contributions pushed the total to 191. This third-lowest score against Sri Lanka proved decisive when South Africa took the ball.

Sri Lanka Crumbles Under Intense Pressure

Sri Lanka’s batting woes were a mix of incisive bowling and poor shot selection. Only two batters managed double figures as the top order faltered against South Africa’s pace. Kagiso Rabada initiated the collapse, inducing a careless edge from Dimuth Karunaratne to first slip. Jansen quickly followed, dismissing Pathum Nissanka and Dinesh Chandimal in consecutive overs with sharp deliveries. Angelo Mathews, relying on experience, misjudged a wide delivery, edging it to slip, leaving Sri Lanka teetering at 16 for 4.

Gerald Coetzee joined the attack with immediate impact, dismissing Kamindu Mendis, who edged a reckless drive to slip. Jansen continued his dominance, securing his second Test five-wicket haul by bowling Dhananjaya de Silva and forcing Prabath Jayasuriya into a loose prod. Coetzee added to the carnage with an lbw dismissal confirmed by review, and Jansen wrapped up the innings with two more scalps, dismissing Sri Lanka in just 78 minutes.

Bavuma Anchors South Africa Amidst Drama

Sri Lanka’s earlier bowling effort was commendable, with Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, and Vishwa Fernando exploiting the pitch’s bounce and seam movement. Kumara struck early, dismissing Kyle Verreynne and injuring Wiaan Mulder, who fractured his finger but later returned to bat. Despite their efforts, Bavuma stood firm, countering the bowlers with a mix of aggression and resilience. His inventive strokeplay, including a ramped six off Kumara, briefly lifted South Africa before he succumbed to Asitha.

In South Africa’s second innings, Tony de Zorzi and Aiden Markram put on 47 for the opening stand before de Zorzi fell to Jayasuriya, who became the joint-fastest bowler in 74 years to reach 100 Test wickets. Mulder, battling discomfort, contributed 16 before being trapped lbw. Markram showed promise but continued his lean patch, inside-edging onto his stumps. Bavuma and Stubbs then steadied the ship, setting up South Africa for a more comfortable batting day ahead.

With a commanding lead and Sri Lanka struggling to recover, South Africa appears poised to secure a decisive victory in this dramatic contest at Kingsmead.

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