Internet Desk: Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada left Sri Lanka in a huge spot of bother when they picked up two wickets apiece on the second day of the third and final Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday (January 13).
Sri Lanka had reached 80 for 4 when bad light stopped play for the day, still 346 runs behind South Africa’s first-innings total of 426.
The morning and best part of the afternoon, however, belonged to Sri Lanka, which has not had a good time in the series, which they trail 2-0, as its bowlers claimed South Africa’s seven remaining wickets at the cost of just 88 runs.
It was all down to Sri Lanka’s pacemen, with Nuwan Pradeep finishing with 4 for 78, and Lahiru Kumara returning 4 for 107.
Hashim Amla, who resumed on 125, could add only nine more off 44 balls before he was caught behind to become Pradeep’s third victim.
Although Pradeep picked up four wickets, taking his wickets for just 15 runs in seven overs, it was an impressive overall bowling performance by the Sri Lankans in conditions conducive to swing and seam movement.
Suranga Lakmal was brilliant at the start of the day after South Africa resumed at 338 for 3, conceding nine runs in seven overs and watching Faf du Plessis being dropped by Kusal Mendis at second slip.
Angelo Mathews also sent down five overs for just nine runs and dismissed Duanne Olivier, the nightwatchman on his Test debut.
But it was Pradeep who shone the brightest, dismissing du Plessis, Temba Bavuma, Amla and Philander in the space of 24 deliveries.
When Sri Lanka batted, although Dimuth Karunaratne was caught behind off Philander without scoring off the fourth ball of the innings, Kaushal Silva and Mendis put on 47 for the second wicket to keep things stable.
But Rabada struck soon after tea when a sharply lifting delivery had Silva edging a second catch to Quinton de Kock behind the stumps. Mendis made 41 before another lifter from Rabada had him fending to gully. Dhananjaya de Silva followed in the next over when he sliced Philander to backward point.
Philander had 2 for 17 and Rabada 2 for 26 when play ended.