Sri Lanka versus South Africa Test Series, 2024

1st Test

Day-2 Evening Session Highlights:

Marco Jansen has dominated with 19 wickets on Day 2 to put South Africa team in command

At The Stumps of Day-2:

South Africa scored 191 (1st Innings) & 132/3 (2nd Innings), where as Sri Lanka scored 42 (1st Innings).

So, finally South Africa lead by 281 runs.

South Africa bowled Sri Lanka out for just 42 – their lowest-ever Test score – in only 83 balls, with Marco Jansen claiming stunning figures of 7/13.

This helped South Africa establish a commanding lead of 281 at the end of Day 2, a day that saw a remarkable 19 wickets fall.

The seaming pitch in Durban proved to be a nightmare for Sri Lanka, with their batters unable to cope as one after another fell to the South African bowlers.

Kagiso Rabada got the ball rolling by dismissing Dimuth Karunaratne, and Jansen emerged as the wrecker-in-chief, taking 7 wickets.

He removed Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, and Angelo Mathews, while also sending Dhananjaya de Silva packing.

Gerald Coetzee added to the destruction with two key dismissals, leaving Sri Lanka in complete disarray.

Jansen’s 41-ball spell produced the third-best figures by a South African pacer at home.

South Africa, who were struggling at 85/6 earlier in the day, had been rescued by Temba Bavuma’s determined 70.

Though Sri Lanka’s bowlers, especially Lahiru Kumara and Vishwa Fernando, had made early breakthroughs, South Africa recovered with a gritty partnership between Bavuma and Jansen.

However, Jansen was dismissed by Prabath Jayasuriya, and Coetzee followed shortly after.

With the tail falling quickly, South Africa were eventually bowled out for 191, a lead of 149.

The second day saw a change in fortunes for South Africa as they built on their lead.

Despite early setbacks, including the loss of Markram and Mulder, Bavuma continued to fight.

He found support in the injured Wiaan Mulder, who batted at No. 3, and the pair extended the lead.

Though Sri Lanka picked up more wickets, including that of Bavuma for 70, South Africa’s second innings reached 281 by stumps, a solid advantage heading into Day 3.