Sri Lanka versus South Africa Test Series, 2024

2nd Test

Day-5 Morning Session Highlights:

Sri Lanka has collapsed on the final day as Keshav Maharaj has bowled South Africa to a series victory

South Africa scored 358 (1st Innings) & 317 (2nd Innings), where as Sri Lanka scored 328 (1st Innings) & 238 (2nd Innings).

So, finally South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 109 runs.

Sri Lanka capitulated on the final morning, conceding both the second Test and the series to South Africa.

The match was evenly poised heading into Day 5, with the visitors resuming at 205/5, relying on Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva to anchor the chase of 348.

However, Keshav Maharaj led South Africa’s charge, taking a five-wicket haul that triggered a Sri Lankan collapse.

South Africa began the day with their two most experienced bowlers—Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada—searching for that crucial wicket to expose the lower order.

Mendis, who had resumed his innings with confidence, clipped one through mid-on for a boundary, but he didn’t last long.

The breakthrough South Africa had been waiting for arrived when Mendis edged one to slip, where Aiden Markram took a low catch.

The early wicket proved pivotal, and South Africa’s momentum grew when Dhananjaya de Silva, the last recognised batter, pushed at a ball outside off-stump and edged it behind.

His departure was effectively the final nail in Sri Lanka’s coffin.

Despite a reprieve, Prabath Jaysuriya couldn’t capitalize, and he too fell shortly after, hitting a half-tracker from Maharaj straight to cover.

The game was all but over when, just seven balls after the drinks break, Maharaj and Marco Jansen struck again to wrap up the tail.

South Africa sealed a dominant victory, moving to the top of the WTC standings.