South Africa in tatters as Lanka dominate 2nd Test

Colombo, July 21: Sri Lanka surged to 151 for 3 in their second innings on Saturday — a 365-run overall lead — as they sought a whitewash triumph over South Africa in their two-Test series.

After their spinners had skittled out South Africa for just 124 in their first innings, Sri Lankan openers Danushka Gunathilaka and Dimuth Karunaratne put on a quickfire 91 to set the foundation for another strong score on the Colombo pitch.

Gunathilaka was Sri Lanka’s primary aggressor, hitting six fours and two sixes in his 61 off 68 balls after tea on the second day.

Keshav Maharaj struck twice to remove Gunathilaka and Dhananjaya da Silva, for a duck, but Karunaratne progressed smoothly at the other end to reach 59 while Angelo Mathews had 12.

The hosts built up their domineering lead at the end of a day in which their 10th wicket pair added valuable runs to build a first innings of 338. South Africa were then routed by Sri Lanka's spinners with Akila Dananjaya taking five for 52.

Dananjaya and Rangana Herath frustrated South Africa through the morning session as they added 61 runs to the overnight total. Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj eventually dismissed Herath to end the innings, and complete a haul of nine for 129 — the second-best for a South Africa bowler. — AFP

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 338 & 151/3 in 34 overs (D. Karunaratne (batting) 59) vs South Africa 124 in 34.5 overs (Dananjaya 5/52).