Sri Lanka was bowled out for 42 by South Africa, marking their lowest Test total in history. Marco Jansen excelled with 7 wickets for 13 runs, while only two Sri Lankan players reached double figures. This innings is the second shortest in men’s Test innings at 83 balls.
In a historic low point for Sri Lankan cricket, the men’s team was dismissed for a mere 42 runs by South Africa during the first Test match in Durban. This total marks the lowest innings score in Sri Lanka’s Test history. Striving to chase South Africa’s first innings total of 191, Sri Lanka astonishingly succumbed to 42 runs after only 13.5 overs of batting.
Marco Jansen delivered a remarkable performance, achieving a career-best of 7 wickets for just 13 runs from 6.5 overs. He was supported by Gerald Coetzee, who claimed 2 wickets for 18 runs, and Kagiso Rabada, who contributed with 1 wicket for just 10 runs. In this innings, only two Sri Lankan batsmen managed to reach double figures, with Kamindu Mendis scoring 13 and Lahiru Kumara contributing 10. Furthermore, this innings lasted just 83 balls, which stands as the second shortest in men’s Test cricket history. Previously, Sri Lanka’s lowest total in Test matches was 71 runs against Pakistan back in 1994.
The performance of Sri Lanka’s cricket team in the first Test match against South Africa has evoked significant historical context. Prior to this match, Sri Lanka’s record low was 71 runs, and on only a handful of occasions in the history of men’s Test cricket have teams been dismissed for fewer than 42 runs. South Africa, historically, holds the record for the lowest Test total, having been bowled out for 30 runs in a 1924 match against England. This recent collapse emphasizes concerns regarding Sri Lanka’s batting strategy and performance under pressure.
In summary, Sri Lanka’s dismal total of 42 runs against South Africa represents a significant historical benchmark for both teams. This score not only reflects the challenges faced by Sri Lankan cricket today but also speaks to the prowess of South African bowlers. Moving forward, it will be essential for Sri Lanka to reassess their batting strategy to prevent further occurrences of such disappointing results in future matches.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
