2nd Test
Day-1 Evening Session Highlights:
Late wickets has boosted the Sri Lanka’s chances after Ryan Rickelton’s maiden century
At The Stumps of Day-1:
South Africa scored 269/7 (1st Innings) vs Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka struck twice late on the opening day to regain momentum, restricting South Africa to 269 for 7 at St George’s Park on Thursday.
Ryan Rickelton’s maiden century, framed by a series of wickets at both ends of the day, left the second Test finely poised at the close of play.
After South Africa chose to bat, Sri Lanka seized the early advantage.
The breakthrough came in the second over when Toni de Zorzi was trapped leg-before by a low full toss from Asitha Fernando.
Despite the Sri Lankan celebration coming prematurely, Zorzi reviewed the decision, but was dismissed on umpire’s call for a duck.
Aiden Markram briefly countered with some stylish boundaries but was undone by Lahiru Kumara’s pace, with the ball nipping back to bowl him out.
Kumara soon picked up Tristan Stubbs, who was caught behind, reducing South Africa to 44 for 3.
However, the momentum shifted when Temba Bavuma’s aggressive play and Rickelton’s solid batting steadied the South African ship.
Despite the early breakthroughs, the hosts made it to Lunch with the balance of play shifting in their favor.
Bavuma, who had pulled a six off Prabath Jayasuriya in the final over before Lunch, continued to attack in the second session.
He began to step out against the spinner, hitting boundaries down the ground.
Rickelton, who had been more reserved initially, gained momentum after drinks, capitalizing on errors in length and line from the pacers, especially on the offside.
The pair rotated the strike effectively, keeping the scoreboard ticking.
Bavuma, however, fell just before Lunch to a short-ball strategy from Asitha, gloving a delivery to the keeper for 78.
By then, he and Rickelton had added 133 runs for the second wicket.
In the final session, Prabath Jayasuriya dismissed David Bedingham, who had been dropped twice earlier, to reduce South Africa to 186 for 5.
Rickelton then joined Kyle Verreynne in rebuilding the innings.
The pair started cautiously, but Sri Lankan pacers repeatedly erred in length, allowing the batters to find boundaries and rotate the strike.
In the last hour, Rickelton brought up his maiden Test century by nudging a good-length delivery to mid-on for a single.
However, he was dismissed shortly after, edging Kumara to gully for 102.
Verreynne continued to attack, hitting three boundaries, but Rickelton’s innings ended, and in the following over, Marco Jansen was bowled out by Vishwa Fernando.
Verreynne remained unbeaten on 48 at stumps.
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