Colombo Test: Sri Lanka sets South Africa daunting target of 369

Herath strikes early after Kumar Sangakkara (72) and captain Angelo Mathews (63) notch up quick half-centuries to increase Sri Lanka’s lead to 368 on a turning Sinhalese Sports Club pitch.

July 27, 2014 06:14 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 05:32 pm IST - COLOMBO:

South African bowler Morne Morkel, left, reacts as Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara scores a boundary. Sangakkara scored a quickfire 72 as Sri Lanka set South Africa a daunting target of 369 to win the second Test at Colombo.

South African bowler Morne Morkel, left, reacts as Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara scores a boundary. Sangakkara scored a quickfire 72 as Sri Lanka set South Africa a daunting target of 369 to win the second Test at Colombo.

Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath picked up an early wicket to put South Africa under pressure as the visitors, chasing 369 to win the second test, finished at 38—1 on day four on Sunday.

Opening the bowling, the left-arm spinner had opener Alviro Petersen caught by Kithruwan Vithanage for a duck with the total on four.

Quinton de Kock batting on 21 and Dean Elgar (13) took a bad light offer and left the field needing to score 331 in three sessions to win the match on Monday or bat out the day for a draw and clinch the two-match series 1—0.

After three interruptions on Sunday, the match is scheduled to start 30 minutes early on Monday with a minimum 98 overs to be bowled.

Sri Lanka earlier declared its second innings on 229—8. Kumar Sangakkara (72) and captain Angelo Mathews (63 not out) made quick half-centuries to increase Sri Lanka’s lead and give them hope of levelling the two-match Test series on a turning Sinhalese Sports Club pitch. South Africa won the first test in Galle.

Sangakkara took 90 balls and hit three boundaries while sharing 81 runs for the fourth wicket with Mathews, who faced 83 deliveries and hit two sixes and two boundaries.

Fast bowler Morne Morkel returned 4—45 for South Africa and in the process reached his 200th test wicket. Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir picked up two wickets each.

Resuming the fourth day on 11—0 Sri Lanka reached 108—3 at lunch but heavy rain during the interval caused a 30 minute delay in starting the second session.

Resuming under cloudy conditions, Sangakkara and Mathews showed urgency in scoring, taking quick singles and twos.

Sangakkara was dismissed trying to charge Morkel and was caught behind by de Kock. Both Vithanage (7) and Niroshan Dickwella (16) fell going for big shots. The hosts lost three wickets in the morning session while adding 97 runs.

Upul Tharanga was out for 30, caught behind off Steyn, while Kaushal Silva was dismissed for 26 after spooning a catch to Vernon Philander off Morkel. Mahela Jayawardene, who top scored for Sri Lanka in the first innings with 165, was out without scoring.

Jayawardene attempted to sweep leg spinner Imran Tahir and was caught brilliantly by Elgar who dived across the pitch from silly-mid-on. He reviewed the decision given by English umpire Nigel Llong unsuccessfully even though television replays were inconclusive as to whether the ball had touched the glove.

Sri Lanka made 421 in the first innings and dismissed South Africa for 282.

Scoreboard:

Sri Lanka 1st innings- 421 all out.

South Africa 1st innings- 282 all out.

Sri Lanka 2nd Innings

(Overnight 11—0)

Upul Tharanga c De Kock b Steyn 30

Kaushal Silva c Philander b Morkel 26

Kumar Sangakkara c De Kock b Morkel 72

Mahela Jayawardene c Elgar b Tahir 0

Angelo Mathews not out 63

Kithuruwan Vithanage c Du Plessis b Morkel 7

Niroshan Dickwella c De Villers b Steyn 16

Dilruwan Perera b Tahir 7

Rangana Herath c De Villiers b Morkel 4

Extras- (1b, 2lb, 1nb) 4

TOTAL- (For 8 wickets dec.) 229

Overs: 53.4. Batting Time- 244 minutes.

Fall of wickets: 1—38, 2—82, 3—83, 4—164, 5—174, 6—203, 7—214, 8—229.

To bat: Ajantha Mendis, Suranga Lakmal.

Bowling: Dale Steyn 13—1—59—2, Vernon Philander 11—3—35—0, Imran Tahir 18—0—76—2 (1nb), Morne Morkel 9.4—1—45—4, Dean Elgar 1—0—9—0, J.P Duminy 1—0—2—0.

Toss: Sri Lanka.

Umpires: Nigel Llong and Richard Kettleborough, England.

Third umpire: Billy Bowden, New Zealand. Match referee- Jeff Crowe, New Zealand.

Series: South Africa leads 2—test series 1—0

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