The Proteas reached 42-1 at tea and still require 448 runs for victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
A tough final session awaits the Proteas. Sri Lanka piled on the pressure in the first session, losing only one wicket before tea.
Dimuth Karunaratne was the only wicket to fall, with Lungi Ngidi finding his edge after a solid 85.
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After the break, Sri Lanka continued to drain the Proteas through Angelo Mathews and Roshen Silva. The pair contributed their side’s third 50-plus partnership of the innings as they strung together 64 runs before Mathews was dismissed with his score on 71. Maharaj took the wicket, finishing with figures of 3-154.
Sri Lanka declared with a lead of 489, leaving the Proteas with a session and a half to survive today if they hope to mount a serious bid to chase down their mammoth 490-run target.
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The Proteas came out to bat and a disastrous start seemed almost inevitable. Dean Elgar almost threw his wicket away twice, both off failed sweep attempts. His first sweep – with his score on five – found a huge top edge which Dilruwan dropped after running from square leg towards mid-wicket. He then received a non-turner from Dilruwan, mistimed another wild sweep, and the ball crashed into the stumps. Elgar was fortunate to remain at the crease, as the TV umpire ruled it a no-ball.
It was Markram’s turn the following over. He was first dropped by Mathews at first slip after edging Rangana Herath behind, but he failed to capitalise on his luck, and was given out lbw by umpire Nigel Llong as Herath got his first wicket of the innings.
Sweep shots seemed to be the order of the day as Theunis de Bruyn got his first eight runs from consecutive sweeps for four. De Bruyn had a nervy couple of minutes before tea and survived two reviews for lbw on the umpire’s call.
The pair needs to settle down at the crease and survive the final session if they have any hope of chasing down the 448 runs they still need for victory and to save the series.
Sri Lanka (second innings) 275-5d – Dimuth Karunaratne 85, Danushka Gunathilaka 61, Angelo Mathews 71, Keshav Maharaj 3-154, Lungi Ngidi 1-9
South Africa (second innings) 42-1 – Dean Elgar 14*, Aiden Markram 14, Theunis de Bruyn 8*, Rangana Herath 1-24.
Proteas need 448 to win.
Photo: Aubrey Kgakatsi/BackpagePix
