South Africa regain control after batting collapse vs SL
DURBAN TEST Visitors lose three wickets in chase of 304 after debutant Embuldeniya takes fifer
South Africa took three Sri Lankan wickets in three overs to finish in a strong position on the third day of the first Test on Friday.
Sri Lanka, needing 304 to win, were 83 for three at the close, 221 runs short of their target. The tourists started their chase promisingly in Durban, with captain Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne putting on 42 for the first wicket but both openers were out in the space of five balls, to be followed shortly afterwards by Kusal Mendis.
Thirimanne fell for 21 to a sharp catch at second slip by South African captain Faf du Plessis when he edged an extravagant drive against Kagiso Rabada. Karunaratne was out for 20 in the next over, leg before wicket to Vernon Philander for the second time in the match.
Duanne Olivier replaced Philander and struck with his fifth ball when Kusal Mendis flashed at a short ball and was caught behind for nought.
The flurry of wickets negated Sri Lanka’s achievement in taking the last five South African wickets for eight runs.
DREAM DEBUT
Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya, 22, playing in his first Test, took five for 66 as South Africa were bowled out for 259 in their second innings.
South Africa were on course to set the tourists a more challenging target when they reached 251 for five, with captain Du Plessis and Philander looking solid in a sixth wicket partnership of 60.
But Embuldeniya, who bowled with impressive control, took Philander’s wicket to start a col- lapse in which the last five wickets fell for eight runs.
Left-arm swing bowler Vishwa Fernando dismissed Du Plessis for 90 three overs later and the rest of the batting crumbled. Fernando took four for 71 to follow up a career-best four for 62 in the first innings. Brief scores (Day 3):
Sri Lanka 191 & 83/3 (Fernando 28*; Olivier 1/3) vs South Africa 235 & (overnight 126-4) 259 all out in 79.1 ovs (Faf du Plessis 90, Quinton de Kock 55, Lasith Embuldeniya 5/66).