New low for South Africa, Sri Lanka win by 278 runs

GALLE: South Africa collapsed dramatically against Sri lanka’s spin to crash to 73 all out in the first Test in Galle on Saturday, their lowest total since readmission to international cricket.

The dismal performance came a day after they were bowled out for just 126, which had been their previous lowest Test innings in Sri Lanka.

Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera took six for 32, and veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath claimed three for 32, as the pair bowled in an unbroken partnership for 28 overs, after Sri Lanka set South Africa a target of 352 for victory.

Herath moved to ninth on the all-time wicket tally, with 423 career dismissals to his name, while Perera’s fivewicket haul was the sixth of his career.

South Africa’s match aggregate of 199 was 20 runs fewer than Sri Lanka opener Dimuth Karunaratne’s individual score across both innings.

Only three of the visitors made it into double figures, and the highest partnership yielded just 22, as batsmen repeatedly fell in their attempts to take on the Sri Lanka spinners.

South Africa’s top scorer was Vernon Philander, who made 22 not out.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 287 and 190 in 57.4 overs (D Karunaratne 60; Keshav Maharaj 4/58, Kagiso Rabada 3/44) bt South Africa 126 and 73 in 28.5 overs (Dilruwan Perera 6/32, Rangana Herath 3/38) by 278 runs.