De Silva defies SA pace attack
PORT ELIZABETH: Dhananjaya de Silva kept Sri Lanka’s hopes alive with a defiant innings on the second day of the First Test against South Africa at St George’s Park on Tuesday.
De Silva made 43 not out as Sri Lanka struggled to 181 for seven — still 105 runs behind South Africa’s first innings total of 286 — before bad light ended play.
South African new ball bowlers Vernon Philander and Kyle Abbott put the Sri Lankan batsmen under pressure in seam-friendly conditions, with the first three wickets falling for 22 runs.
It looked as though a full-scale collapse was possible but Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews made a solid 39 before De Silva came out to bat at number seven and played an impressive innings, with assistance from Dinesh Chandimal and Rangana Herath.
“It was a tough wicket to bat on but we made some mistakes,” said Chandimal. He added that Sri Lanka felt they could get close to South Africa’s total. “We all know Dhananjaya is a really good batsman, especially with the tail.”
It was not a wholly impressive performance by the South African bowlers. Philander and Abbott both bowled well, taking three for 35 and two for 49 respectively, but rising star Kagiso Rabada had an off day.
Rabada struggled to find his rhythm and conceded 63 runs in 13 overs, although he did take the key wicket of Mathews.
“There was a lot in the wicket but we still had to be patient,” said Philander. “The wicket suited Kyle and myself, bowling a fuller length. KG’s (Rabada) natural length is a bit shorter so with his extra pace it was easier for them to score off him.”
De Silva, playing in only his sixth Test, showed some of the quality Sri Lanka’s Silva
that has already brought him centuries against Australia and Zimbabwe, although he survived a caught and bowled chance to leftarm spinner Keshav Maharaj when he was on 27. When play ended he had faced 69 balls and hit five fours. AFP