• Top-order collapse sees SA post 89-4

    Published on | Leave a response

    The Proteas suffered yet another top-order collapse as they posted 89-4 at lunch on day one of the first Test against Sri Lanka. KHALID MOHIDIN reports.

    The Proteas had a terrible start to their innings in what has become a familiar scene for them –  this time losing their top three for just 17 runs.

    The Sri Lanka bowlers were aided by the gloomy overhead conditions and humidity that helped them produce consistent early swing.

    This saw the Proteas reduced to 0-1 with the dismissal of Dean Elgar for a duck as Vishwa Fernando found his edge.

    They should have been 0-2 when Sri Lanka appealed for leg before against Hashim Amla, but was given not out by the on-field umpire Aleem Dar. Sri Lanka took too long to make a decision taking the review and missed out on sending Amla back to the pavilion for a duck.

    Despite Amla’s luck, SA were reduced to 9-2 after he guided a Suranga Lakmal delivery to Kusal Mendis at first slip.

    Aiden Markram was next to go, with his bails flying off after a beautiful inswinger from Fernando, who was enjoying a perfect start to his first tour to South Africa.

    All the pressure was shifted o nto Faf du Plessis and Temba Bavuma, who needed to dig deep to haul the Proteas out of trouble.

    They would have aimed to survive until lunch, but Du Plessis lost his wicket just before the break with his score on 35.

    The Proteas will have their work cut out for them after the break, and the last six wickets will need to earn their keep if they hope to reach 250.

    Scorecard 

    Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images

    Post by

    Khalid Mohidin