Unfancied Sri Lanka rattle South Africa on green top
DURBAN: Sri Lanka bowlers made use of a helpful pitch to have South Africa struggling on 17/3 at one point before limping to lunch on 89/4 on the opening day of the first Test on Wednesday.
Left-arm quick Vishwa Fernando took two wickets in his first spell — removing both openers — and Suranga Lakmal chipped in with the prize wicket of Hashim Amla to put South Africa’s top-three batsmen back in the dressing room after only 7.4 overs of the series-opener at Kingsmead.
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis and Temba Bavuma fought back with a 72-run stand to ease the pressure but du Plessis fell right at the end of the session, taking the players to lunch and confirming Sri Lanka’s early ascendancy in a series few people are backing the tourists to win.
INEXPERIENCED TEAM Sri Lanka came to South Africa with an inexperienced team under new captain Dimuth Karunaratne and off a run of three straight series losses and six losses in their last seven Tests.
Batsman Oshada Fernando and left-arm spinner Lasith Ambuldeniya were picked to make their debuts at Kingsmead while quick bowlers Vishwa Fernando and Kasun Rajitha have played only seven Tests between them.
Sri Lanka’s last series victory came at home against South Africa last July. Since then, they have lost at home to England and away to New Zealand and Australia. South Africa have won seven series in a row at home after sweeping Pakistan 3-0 l ast month, moving the Proteas to
No.2 in the rankings behind India. Sri Lanka are ranked No.6.
But pre-series predictions went out the window in the opening session as Sri Lanka won the toss and jumped at the chance to put South Africa in on a green strip that turned out to be as good for the bowlers as it appeared.
Vishwa Fernando dismissed Dean Elgar for a duck in the second over, caught behind by wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella.
Lakmal removed Amla for three via a sharp catch at slip by Kusal Mendis. Vishwa Fernando bowled the other opener, Aiden Markram, for 11. Bavuma was 38 not out at lunch but du Plessis (35) fell off what turned out to be the last ball of the morning when he edged a leg-side ball from Rajitha and was caught by Dickwella. Brief scores: South Africa 89/4 (T Bavuma 38*; V Fernando 2/31) at lunch on Day 1 vs Sri Lanka.