By Ross Roche.
The Proteas cleaned up the final five Sri Lankan wickets in the morning session on the fifth day to secure a 85-run win in the second test at St George’s Park in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) on Monday, to secure a 2-0 series win after triumphing in Durban last week.
Chasing 348 to win the visitors started the day on 205/5, still in with a chance of winning the game and levelling the series, but spinner Keshav Maharaj took centre stage, picking up a five wicket haul and ending with figures of 5/76 to lead the Proteas home.
Sri Lankan hopes rested on the shoulders of captain Dhanajaya de Silva (50) and Kusal Mendis (47), but they were pegged back early when Kusal was outfoxed by Maharaj’s spin, getting a thick edge to Aiden Markram at slip, with him taking a superb catch just off the turf, as they slipped to 219/6.
Three overs later and the match was practically over as Kagiso Rabada had De Silva driving and edging to keeper Kyle Verreynne to reduce them to 225/7, with all the recognised batters back in the changeroom.
From there the match went swiftly to its conclusion as Maharaj had Prabath Jayasuriya (9) cracking a long hop straight to captain Temba Bavuma at extra cover, and Vishwa Fernando (5) skying the ball to Marco Jansen at extra cover to seal his 11th test five-for.
Jansen then ended the game with his first ball of the day, Lahiru Kumara getting a huge top edge for Ryan Rickelton to take the catch, with them all out for 238.
At the start of the match the Proteas won the toss and chose to bat first, amassing 358 all out thanks to a maiden test century from Rickelton (101), an unbeaten first century at home from Verreynne (105no) and a half century from Bavuma (78).
Kumara, 4/79, was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, while Asitha Fernando, 3/102, and Vishwa Fernando, 2/65, backed him up.
The visitors responded with 328 all out, with opener Pathum Nissanka (89) top scoring, while Kamindu Mendis (48), Angelo Matthews (44) and Dinesh Chandimal (44) all got starts but couldn’t kick on.
Veteran Proteas pace bowler Dane Paterson was the star performer with the ball, picking up his maiden test five wicket haul at the age of 35, finishing with figures of 5/71, while Maharaj, 2/65, and Jansen, 2/100, chipped in.
In the Proteas second innings half centuries from Bavuma (66) and Markram (55) led the way, while Tristan Stubbs (47) and David Bedingham (35) also made positive contributions in their 317 all out, while Prabath Jayasuriya dominated with the ball picking up 5/129.
Set 348 to win the test, Sri Lanka then found themselves in deep trouble on 122/5 late in the afternoon on day four, before De Silva and Kusal batted them back into the match by the close of play, but were then unable to lead them home on the final morning.
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (capt), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Kusal Mendis (wk), Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando.