Internet Desk: South Africa beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 118 runs inside three days in the third and final Test at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday (January 14) in yet another show of utter dominance over the visiting side.
Batting first, South Africa hit 426 and then bowled Sri Lanka out for 131 and 177 to claim the three-match series 3-0 under new captain Faf du Plessis.
Sri Lanka was 124 for 6 at tea on the third day in the second innings after South Africa’s pacers sent it tumbling to 131 all out in the first hit. The visitor then lost the last four wickets – Rangana Herath (10), Upul Tharanga (26), Lahiru Kumara (0) and Suranga Lakmal (31) – soon after, crumbling in just 42.3 overs in it second innings despite a battling half-century from Dimuth Karunarate, the opener.
There was no respite for Sri Lanka on a pace-friendly pitch with South Africa’s four bowlers sharing the spoils.
Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada both took three wickets in the first innings, while Duanne Olivier, the debutant, and Wayne Parnell took two apiece. In the second innings, Parnell picked up 4 for 51 while Olivier had 3 for 38.
Sharing the new ball with Philander in the second innings, Rabada took a wicket with his first delivery when Kaushal Silva gloved a catch to Quinton de Kock behind the stumps. He added the wicket of Karunaratne, who was bowled for 50 shortly before tea.
Parnell bowled Kusal Mendis before Olivier dismissed Dhanajaya de Silva and Angelo Mathews, both to catches by Faf du Plessis at second slip.
Philander took his first wicket of the innings when Dinesh Chandimal was caught at first slip.
Earlier, in a dismal day for it, Sri Lanka was able to add only 51 runs to its overnight 80 for 4 in the first innings. The early damage was done by Philander and Rabada, who dismissed Chandimal and Mathews, the overnight batsmen. They finished with 3 for 28 and 3 for 44 respectively.
Batting first after winning the toss, South Africa rode on an innings of 134 from Hashim Amla, who was appearing in his 100th Test match, and 155 from JP Duminy before the Sri Lankans lifted their game to send it from 337 for 2 to 426 all out. Nuwan Pradeep (4 for 78) and Lahiru Kumara (4 for 107) were the stars of that performance, but the batsmen let the team down twice over after that.