Trio hit 50s but Proteas trail in Test

SOUTH Africa trail Sri Lanka by 79 runs after day two of the first Test in Centurion saw Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram and Faf du Plessis each post half-centuries for the hosts.

After bowling Sri Lanka out for 396 at Supersport Park - the tourists’ highest Test score in South Africa - the Proteas reached 317-4 in reply.

Elgar and Markram shared an opening partnership of 141 before the latter departed for 68.

Elgar then fell just short of a century, reaching 95 before being caught and bowled by Dasun Shanaka to leave the score at 200 for three.

Du Plessis then reached 55 not out by the close of play, with Temba Bavuma the other man at the crease, on 41.

Sri Lanka were bowling without Kasun Rajitha after he departed the field with an apparent injury in the sixth over of the innings.

Also absent was Dhananjaya de Silva, who is set to miss the rest of the match and the second Test due to the thigh injury which forced him to retire on 79 on day one.

Shanaka had been the key man as Sri Lanka added 56 to their overnight 340-6, contributing 66 not out.

South Africa debutant Lutho Sipamla added to his maiden Test wicket from day one with three more scalps, including two in two balls as he ousted Rajitha and Vishwa Fernando and he ended up with figures of four for 76. ■STAND-IN captain Ajinkya Rahane’s brilliant unbeaten century gave India control of the Boxing Day Test against Australia after day two in Melbourne.

Rahane, leading with Virat Kohli absent for the birth of his first child, compiled 104 not out from 200 balls.

He shared an unbroken stand of 104 with Ravindra Jadeja as India closed on 277-5 with a lead of 82.

Rahane was dropped on 73 and again on 104 on a frustrating day for Australia, who spilled a further two chances.

Pat Cummins took two quick wickets in the morning session, having both debutant Shubman Gill (45) and Cheteshwar Pujara (17) caught behind.

India were 64-3 but Rahane battled through conditions in the bowlers’ favour, batting patiently before increasing his scoring rate late in the day.