Match Center

So that is it from this game! The South Africans have ended up taking a 1-0 lead in the series. Everything to play for then in the second Test for Sri Lanka which begins on the 3rd of January at 1000 local (0800 GMT). Till then, take care and goodbye!

The South African skipper, Quinton de Kock, starts off by saying that he is feeling good. Adds that on Day 1, they were slightly disappointed with their bowling but that they came back nicely towards the end of their bowling spell and they showed great character to finish off nicely. Feels that it was a good start by Markram and Elgar and they showed great intent. Says that they are not looking to do anything too different in the next game.

Dimuth Karunaratne, the Sri Lankan captain, starts off by saying that they were in the driving seat as they scored nearly 400 and they did well as a batting unit. Credits his batters for their approach. Says that as a captain, they lost their main bowler and they did well in the first day but they have a couple of youngsters, who can come and do a job for him in the second test. Feels that they need to keep the momentum and a positive mindset and that the bowlers have done a good job for them, whenever the team has required them to. Tells that they want to take the positives from this game and move forward.

The Player of the Match is Faf du Plessis! He says that it was a good win and that they bowled alright but they showed good character as a batting unit and it is always good to contribute to the team. Adds that the important thing as a batting unit, is that they wanted to start well and they did that. Feels that he took his time to get going. Tells that as you look up at the scoreboard and see a deficit, you work on a partnership and then score more freely and they did that well. Feels that it was a good test match pitch and if you hit that channel while bowling, it would be good. Credits the groundsmen and adds that this was a free scoring match as well. Adds that he was feeling good in the lead up to this series and it was unique since he has not played red ball cricket in over a year and he wanted to just focus on the basics.

Tey took a lead of over 200 before declaring and from there on, it was a very difficult task for the Lankans to get back into the game. In the second innings, they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Only Perera at the top and Hasaranga lower down the order showed some fight. The two scored half tons but a lot more was needed from them. In the end, it was a very one-sided game. Stay tuned for the presentation!

Then when South Africa came out to bat, the Lankans were dealt with another blow as they lost Rajitha in the initial overs itself due to injury! Then they kept drifting away from the game. The South African batters kept piling partnerships and that too in quick time. Three 100-plus run stands with Faf being the top scorer, falling one short of a double ton.

The Test started nicely for the visitors! They elected to bat and were set a good first innings total. However it could have been a few more had de Silva did not got injured. It was his partnership with Chandimal which looked at ease. However, once he walked off injured, Lanka kept losing wickets at regular intervals but they still amassed close to 400.

A very convincing win for South Africa in the end! Also, like predicted, this has turned out to be the last session. It was a no-brainer though as 2 wickets is all they needed. One though has to feel bad for Sri Lanka. They did not play as bad as the scorecard indicates. They were a lot better than that. Injuries though at crucial moments cost them big time. Not saying they would have won the game but it would have surely been a better contest.

OUT! TAKEN! End of the Test and IT IS SOUTH AFRICA WHO WIN BY AN INNINGS AND 45 RUNS! A length ball around off, Rajitha looks to fend at it but it goes off the outside edge to gully who takes it.

On middle, it is kept out somehow.

Outside off, left alone.

Another one on middle, Kumara defends it onto the ground.

On middle, it is kept out.

Shorter and on middle, Kumara does well to duck under it. It is a no ball as the bowler has overstepped!

Lahiru Kumara walks out to bat! The last man.

OUT! TAKEN! The hopes of avoiding an innings defeat is probably over! A length delivery, it is slapped hard but down towards long off where Hasaranga takes it. End of a good little innings from him but not enough.

Length and this one stays down low! Hasaranga looks to work it on the leg side but gets an inside edge onto the pads.