Sri Lanka's hopes of dominating the first Test against South Africa were severely dented by a strong reply from the home side. The resistance was led by their dogged opener Dean Elgar who just missed out on another Test hundred. Still, the Proteas ended day 2 on 317/4, trailing Sri Lanka by 79 runs.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka mangaed to take their score to 396 after starting at 340/6. The seventh-wicket partnership between Dasun Shanaka and Kasun Rajitha added a valuable 67 runs to the team's score. Shanaka managed to reach his fifty and remained unbeaten at the end of the innings on the personal score of 66.
After the fall of the seventh wicket, of Kasun Rajitha, who scored 12, South Africa ended the lower order's resistance quickly. Debutant Lutho Sipamla, who struggled early on during the first day but managed to look more effective with the second new ball, picked up the last three wickets and ended with figures of 4/76. Wiaan Mulder also had good figures - 3/69.
South Africa started on a very strong note. Despite the pitch offering some assistance to the seamers, openers Elgar and Aiden Markram put up a partnership of 141. Markram was out on 68 to Vishwa Fernando. Rassie van der Dussen, occupying the pivotal no. 3 position, which had been made his own by Hashim Amla, managed only 15 before a beautiful delivery by Lahiru Kumara moved just a little to take the edge of his bat, and the catch was taken by the wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella.
At this stage, Sri Lankan seamers started to get the ball to move around and presented challenges to the batsmen. Elgar, nearing his hundred, fell prey to a delivery that swung back in from Shanaka and the left-hander's strong bottom hand made the ball travel back towards the bowler, aerially, to be taken gleefully by him. Elgar scored 95.
Quinton de Kock came out at no. 5 and straightaway got into his stroke playing mode. Unfortunately for him, debutant Wanindu Hasaranga got a delivery to go on with the angle, instead of turning like a regular leg-break, into the batsman. The ball took the edge of de Kock's closed-face bat and carried it to slip.
At 220/4, with the conditions still offering assistance to the seamers, South African team would have been a bit worried. However, du Plessis and Bavuma took charge and negotiated the bowling without creating any chances. Sri Lankan pacers were not able to bowl consistent lines and lengths to trouble the batsmen while Hasaranga's success didn't lead to more spin-related troubles for the batting pair.
By the time the end of the day came around, Faf had managed to reach an important half-century in his career. Bavuma also moved on to 41. The partnership is worth 97 runs and looking ominous for the Lankans.
The visiting teams bowlers just didn't create enough opportunities. They were also hamstrung with an injury to Kasun Rajitha which forced him to leave the field after bowling just 2.1 overs.
The match has proceded in an unexpected way. Despite the pitch having sufficient bounce and movement, neither team has been able to do justice to them. The match has, hence, turned into one with high scores in first innings.
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