Sri Lanka 413 runs to defeat 103 (Chandimal 29*, Johnson 2-22, Rabada 2-34) for 42 and 5 wickets. South Africa 191 and 366 for December 5 (Stabs 122, Bawuma 113, Vishwa 2-64)
Sri Lanka’s final wickets created some dramatics, but it was a 249 -run partnership – which equaled a record for the fourth wicket at this ground – which was the center of Friday’s action. Stabs and Bavuma had formulated the base for their centuries in the morning, sometimes interacted to test the early overs.
However, it was clear that by then, the Kingsmade Pitch had lost most of its brightness in the first few sessions of this match. South Africa increased its pace in the second session and proceeded at the rate of 4.81 runs per over in the afternoon.
On the third day, the speed of Sri Lankan fast bowlers was slow, as perhaps an attack in 150 overs of the match could be expected. They eventually managed to dismiss Stubs and Bavuma at the end of the second season. But by that time, South Africa’s lead had exceeded 500. When he declared the innings at the time of tea, only five wickets fell, he gave Sri Lanka a target of 516 runs to win.
However, it was a century of two South African batsmen, which encouraged the crowd most in Kingsmid, and the most dramatic dramatic performance in triple figures trip. He appeared temporary in the 90s when Sri Lanka appealed against him to LBW, and also forced them to play and miss.
Bavuma was the most dramatic moment of the day to complete his third century. Batting for 98 runs, he fell down to sweep Prabhat Jayasuriya and hit the pad. The umpire turned down the LBW appeal when the batsmen ran three runs.
But after taking off their helmets to celebrate, when Sri Lanka reviewed the verdict, they had to wait a while. Thankfully for Bavuma, in real time Sniko caught a very minor deflection in the pad from his glove, and as soon as it was shown on the big screen, Bavuma turned his bat in the air, and the mob was before the final Accepted “Not out” decision came. This was only the third century of his career, but his second century as captain.
Stabs completed his second Test century in a more simple way. He had spent only 14 balls in the 90s, before that, Asitha Fernando achieved this feat by some runs on midwicket. In the next over, Stabs was given a LBW off Lahiru Kumara, but he reviewed and found that the ball was out of the off line. In the first session, Angelo Mathews dismissed him by Vishwa Fernando for 33 runs, who gave him a chance to his left in the slip.
Although the circumstances had become easier, it was exceptional to bat in the entire first session of Bavuma and Stabs, as 19 wickets fell in the last day. Both of them took care in the beginning, as Kumara did not go to the batsmen and Jayasuriya flew the ball in an attempt to get out early.
Stabs, generally, were strong under the ground, while Bavuma Square was more skilled in hitting, often used his legs for spinners, and sometimes in addition to Dinky One behind the keeper, hard, flat sweep also play Were. Apart from that one occasion of Stabs, the two batsmen looked largely under control, although sometimes LBW slogans were also raised – none of which were particularly close.
In the final session, the South Africa’s fast bowlers became furious again and the Sri Lankan batsmen continued indiscipline, while the lights were reduced and the opposition team was still enthusiastic. Sri Lanka also managed to burn all its three reviews, Pathum Nisanka and Angelo Mathews reviewed the LBW decisions that were more or less softened before Kamindu Mendis reviewed the wicketkeeper after giving the wing lead.
When confirmed this, it was Kamindu’s first dual failure in nine Tests so far, 13 in the first innings and 10 runs in this innings.
Andrew Fidel Fernando is a senior writer of ESPNcricinfo. @Afidelf
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