By Srian Obeyesekere
South Africa swept to a 109-run win over Sri Lanka in the second test wrapping up the innings for 238 runs in 69 minutes of the final day with the Lankan last five wickets falling for 19 runs with off spinner Keshav Maharaj claiming four for his tenth 5-wicket haul at St. George’s Park, Gqeberha.
The Sri Lankan overnight pair which had threatened to swing the game on the fourth day by a positive 83-run partnership making batting look easy, however, catapulted on the final day with Kusal Mendis adding just 11 mistiming a drive to a turning delivery from Maharaj with Aiden Markram snapping up the catch with his hand touching the ground that required third umpire clarification that the ball had not touches the ground.
The Lankans captain Dhananjaya de Silva was out fourteen balls later driving at a Kagiso Rabada delivery moving away and edging to wicket keeper Kyle Verreynne as Sri Lanka lost the last two recognised wickets with the score 225 ending their hopes of winning with Maharaj going on to polish off the tail.
The win insulating the Proteas right at the top of the WTC table pipping India left them needing just one more win in their next assignment against Pakistan to making the finals.
Sri Lanka’s test Championship hopes nose dived with this defeat that left them with a herculean task ahead when they take on Australia in a 2-match series to get into the equation.
Dane Peterson took the Player of the Match award while South African captain Temba Bavuma took the Player of the Series award for his batting exploits.
South Africa 358 and 317 (Bavuma 66, Markram 55, Jayasuriya 5-129) beat Sri Lanka 328 and 238 (Dhananjaya de Silva 50, Maharaj 5-76) by 109 runs
This post is an official press release by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
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