South African batters Tristan Stubbs and Temba Bavuma scored centuries, helping their team declare at 366 for five in the second innings against Sri Lanka. Set a massive target of 516 runs, Sri Lanka ended Day Three at 103 for five, struggling against South Africa’s bowlers, including Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, who each took two wickets.
In a commanding performance at Kingsmead, South Africa placed themselves in a dominant position against Sri Lanka during the first Test, with centuries from Tristan Stubbs and Temba Bavuma. The pair put together a formidable partnership of 249 runs for the fourth wicket, leading to South Africa declaring their second innings at a substantial 366 for five. This set Sri Lanka a daunting target of 516 runs, and by the end of Day Three, they found themselves struggling at 103 for five, with their batsmen failing to cope with the South African pace attack.
Starting the day at 132 for two, Stubbs and Bavuma batted with purpose, extending South Africa’s lead. Their partnership was punctuated by methodical play, and Stubbs ultimately achieved his third Test century. The Sri Lankan bowlers found it increasingly difficult as the batters managed to play conservatively yet effectively. Despite a drop of Stubbs on 33 by Angelo Mathews, the South African duo capitalized on the favorable conditions that aided batting in the afternoon session.
This match marks the beginning of an exciting Test series between South Africa and Sri Lanka, both of which are keen to establish dominance in the longer format of the game. South Africa’s strong performance, fortified by Stubbs and Bavuma’s solid batting, demonstrates their ability to recover after a disappointing first innings. The challenge for Sri Lanka lies in overcoming their prior disastrous performance where they were bowled out for a record low of 42 runs, compounded by the consistent threat posed by South African bowlers such as Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen.
In summary, South Africa’s strategy of accumulating runs through cautious yet efficient batting has placed them in a bolstered position against Sri Lanka. The bowlers’ early strikes on Day Three were pivotal, and Sri Lanka’s batting order remains vulnerable under the pressure of a massive run chase. The match continues to highlight the prowess of South African cricket, and it will be intriguing to see how Sri Lanka responds to this challenge in the subsequent days of the Test.
Original Source: www.france24.com
