Dale Steyn grabbed a match haul of 9-99 as South Africa thrashed Sri Lanka by 153 runs on the fifth and final day of the first Test yesterday.
Steyn’s figures, the best by a quick at the Galle ground, helped the visitors bowl Sri Lanka out twice despite a wicket that offered little help.
It was only South Africa’s third win in the nation and their first since 2000.
Photo: Reuters
Steyn was well-supported by seamer Morne Morkel, who picked up four wickets as Sri Lanka’s second innings ended on 216 shortly into the second session.
The hosts needed to make another 260 runs on the final day with nine wickets in hand to pull off a come-from-behind win. However, they lost their remaining wickets for just 106 to go down tamely in the end.
South Africa made 455-9 declared in their first innings before bowling out the home side for 292. In their second knock, South Africa declared at 206-6 to set Sri Lanka a target of 370.
Photo: AFP
The victory was especially sweet for Hashim Amla, who was leading the side for the first time in Test cricket.
He celebrated his winning start by hugging his teammates and exchanging high fives.
“It [winning] was not easy, credit to the boys, they put their hands up today,” Amla said. “We had some challenging overs last night, but the bowlers came back and did really well. Dean [Elgar] got a hundred, J.P. [Duminy] got one as well, and they set the game up for us.”
South Africa, currently the world No. 2, can reclaim their top world ranking from Australia if they win the second and final Test in Colombo starting on Thursday.
Part-time spinner Duminy picked up two wickets including the crucial scalp of Kumar Sangakkara, who made a fighting 76 to salvage some pride for the hosts.
Sri Lanka, who had resumed on their overnight 110-1, added just 51 off 24 overs in the first session while losing five wickets.
“South Africans outplayed us on all the five days,” Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews said.
“We don’t mind losing games if we have played good cricket, but in this game we were really disappointing,” he said. “The first innings total cost us the game, if we had added a bit more runs we could have been in with a chance. The batters need to improve their game.”
Steyn, who had taken a five-wicket haul in the first innings, struck in the fourth over of the day to give his side the breakthrough they needed.
His victim was opener Kaushal Silva (38) who nicked the seamer behind the wicket, where Quinton de Kock dived to his right to take a stunning catch.
Silva’s dismissal ended a 104-run stand with Sangakkara for the second wicket, the highest of the innings.
Sri Lanka were dealt a bigger blow off the first delivery after the drinks break when Morkel had big-hitter Mahela Jayawardene caught behind for 10.
Sangakkara was dropped on 65, but failed to take advantage of the reprieve, pulling Duminy to short midwicket where Amla took a fine catch.
Sangakkara hit nine fours and a six.
The dismissal of Sangakkara and Jayawardene in quick succession infused new energy into the visitors.
Lahiru Thirimanne was caught by A.B. de Villiers off Steyn for 12, while Morkel had Dinesh Chandimal (1) caught behind by De Kock.
Sri Lanka lost Dilruwan Perera (0) to Steyn in the second over of the post-lunch session, the tailender offering an edge to De Kock, who took five catches in the innings.
Rangana Herath (20) was caught by De Villiers as he tried to play a sweep shot against Duminy.
Steyn, who was named man of the match, said it felt great to help his side win the game.
“Every time I come down to the sub-continent, I want to do well,” Steyn said.
“Nobody cares if you take five-for on a green top, but on a wicket like this, it really makes a difference,” the paceman added.
ENGLAND, INDIA
Reuters, LONDON
Murali Vijay fell five runs short of a well-deserved century yesterday, as England took three valuable wickets in the morning session of fourth day of the second Test at Lord’s.
A free-hitting Ravindra Jadeja (37) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (13) were to resume after the break with India on 267-7, having extended their lead to 243 as they seek to give England a challenging fourth-innings chase.
Opener Vijay looked set for his fifth Test century, having resumed on 59, but fell shortly after the new ball was taken, edging James Anderson to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
England’s bowlers had started poorly, pushing the ball either side of the wicket, but once against Yorkshire paceman Liam Plunkett provided the burst of inspiration his side desperately needed.
On Saturday afternoon, as the England attack grew increasingly weary, he removed Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli in consecutive deliveries to haul his side back into the match.
The following morning, a touch of extra bounce saw an unusually circumspect Mahendra Singh Dhoni (19) edge through to Ian Bell at slip.
Moeen Ali was introduced for a few overs of spin before the new ball was taken and Alastair Cook’s decision immediately vindicated when Stuart Binny, yet to get off the mark, skied a shot that the captain caught at full stretch.
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