Nineteen wickets tumble as South Africa lose seven men for 38 runs

Nineteen wickets fell on day two of the second Test at St George’s Park, as South Africa lost seven scalps for just 38 runs to leave Sri Lanka in a promising position to secure a 2-0 series victory.

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Such a result would represent a mighty upset if the tourists were to pull it off, with the tourists ending their second innings on 60/2, just 137 runs shy of victory. Not that it’ll be straightforward given the fast-bowling armoury of the hosts and the bowler-friendly conditions of the first two days.

The day didn’t start brightly for Sri Lanka, who were bundled out for just 154 in their first innings, conceding a 58-run first-innings deficit. But South Africa produced an even greater collapse, with only skipper Faf du Plessis offering any resistance for the Proteas, with a valiant half-century.

Sri Lanka’s also struggled in the early part of their second innings, with Lahiru Thirimanne hanging his bat out to edge Kagiso Rabada to Quinton de Kock for 10, before Duanne Olivier removed Dimuth Karunaratne in similar fashion in the next over.

Kusal Mendis and Oshada Fernando managed to see off the remaining 30 minutes to keep Sri Lanka’s spirits intact and set up a mouth-watering finale.

In the early stages of day two, Olivier removed Thirimanne (29) with a tidy caught and bowled, before Rabada (4/38) sent an absolute peach of a delivery into the top of Rajitha’s off-stump.

Kusal Perera showed early signs of the form he paraded during his epic, match-defining knock in the first Test, with a flurry of fours through the off-side before biffing a huge six over extra-cover off Rababa. The Proteas quick soon had his revenge when the free-spirited batsman nicked off for 20.

Niroshan Dickwella played an audacious scoop over the keeper’s head before feathering behind, while Keshav Maharaj trapped Lakmal lbw with one that drifted towards leg-stump. When Dickwella failed to get enough on a wild swipe outside off, Sri Lanka’s innings terminated on 154.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers appeared to gain confidence from how their batsmen floundered, intent on inflicting similar damage on their opposition, as Vishwa Fernando removed Dean Elgar on the stroke of lunch, before Markram was felled early into the second session courtesy of a smart catch at mid-wicket off the bowling of Rajitha.

Bavuma, who once again looked uncertain while running between the wickets, also became Rajitha’s prey when he nicked behind, though du Plessis was gifted a juicy half-volley outside off and strolled into double figures with a string of boundaries. But thing woulds go downhill fast for the Proteas. Hashim Amla (32) edged to slip off Dhananjaya de Silva (3/36) after making a tidy start, before de Kock offered a leading edge straight back to Laxmal.

Shortly after tea, Maharaj narrowly dodged a run-out appeal after meandering wide of the crease to evade the throw, but he was soon sent packing by Laxmal (4/39), who also got one to jag and kiss the outside edge of Rabada, the tailender who had proved such good company for de Kock in the first innings.

Steyn was out to a superb catch at short-leg by Thirimanne, before talisman du Plessis, who would soon post a half-century, was seemingly stumped, only to discover that de Silva had overstepped. The skipper (50 not out) survived by Olivier was trapped in-front by Lakmal to conclude a fine bowling performance by the tourists – and a miserable one for the hosts, who have a lot to do on day three to draw the series.

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