Anrich Nortje took six wickets and Dean Elgar hit an unbeaten 92 as the Proteas made a strong start to the second Test against Sri Lanka on Sunday.
Opting to bat first at the Wanderers after winning the toss, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 157 in only the second session of the match with Nortje the chief destroyer.
Wiaan Mulder forced a middle-order collapse with three quick wickets before the lunch break before Nortje ripped through Sri Lanka’s lower order. The pace bowler finished the innings with career-best figures of 6-56.
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READ: Lunch: Mulder rips through Sri Lanka top order
In reply the Proteas lost Aiden Markram early in the innings when he was caught behind off an Asitha Fernando delivery for only five.
But, Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen regrouped and batted patiently towards the close of play with a brilliant and unbeaten 114-run partnership for the third wicket.
Elgar brought up his 16th half-century in the process and will be hoping to go one better than in the first Test by converting his score into a century on day two.
The Proteas will resume on Monday with their score on 148-1 with Van der Dussen also unbeaten on 40.
READ: Tea: Proteas bowlers skittle Sri Lanka
Teams:
Proteas: Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Rassie van der Dussen, Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock (c) (wk), Temba Bavuma, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Lutho Sipamla.
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (C) KJ Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Minod Bhanuka, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando
