On a tense opening morning at St George’s Park, when South Africa forced Lahiru Kumara to work following their decision to bat first, Lahiru Kumara became the sixth fast bowler from Sri Lanka to capture 100 Test wickets. On a pitch with a substantial amount of grass coverage and a respectable bounce, Sri Lanka’s seamers found just enough movement to pose a danger.
At 44 for 3 in the 16th over, South Africa was in trouble, but by lunchtime, Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma stabilized the team with an unbroken 38-run fifth-wicket partnership.
Sri Lanka got out to a strong start in windy circumstances and immediately reaped the rewards. On the first ball of the second over, an inswinging delivery struck Tony de Zorzi on the full on leg stump, and Asitha Fernando ruled him out leg before wicket. De Zorzi reviewed, but the umpire’s ruling stood for both impact and wickets.
He hammered an Asitha full toss for four through mid-off after leaning into a drive, but he was immediately off the mark.
Rickelton was more cautious, but Aiden Markram was eager to chase width and hit three boundaries in the following two overs. He had to be because Vishwa Fernando used a mobility test on him. Together, they reached 26 for 1 before Sri Lanka’s first change, surviving the early stints of the new-ball bowlers.
Since there was more bounce available at Asitha’s end, Kumara took over. He began by overstepping and sending a half-volley that allowed Rickelton to break over the covers for four. Sri Lanka made a double substitution and brought in Prabath Jayasuriya, who was playing more calmly, at the opposite end. Markram went for a drive to a delivery that tucked back in and bowled him, giving Kumara a breakthrough in his subsequent over. Kumara’s 100th Test wicket came from there.
At his home field, Tristan Stubbs, who made a century at Durban, batted for the first time in a Test match with the band in full force, but his stay was brief. With firm hands, he went for a wide Kumara ball and edged to Kusal Mendis, who moved to his right and made a brilliant catch.
When Bavuma, the other centurion from Kingsmead, flicked Jayasuriya behind square to bring up South Africa’s fifty, he did it with confidence.
Bavuma struck Asitha for consecutive boundaries after playing some good strokes, including as a late guide between second and third slip.
When he rocked back to knock Jayasuriya over midwicket and out of the ground, he revealed his most aggressive side. The players closed off the over without causing any more harm when they recovered the ball from over a low wall.
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