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DAY 5: Maharaj wraps up 2-0 series win for Proteas

football09 December 2024 14:16| © MWP
By:Ross Roche
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The Proteas cleaned up the final five Sri Lankan wickets in the morning session on the fifth day to secure an 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 for five, 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 for six.

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 for seven, with all the recognised batters back in the changeroom.

From that stage, 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, with Lahiru Kumara getting a huge top edge for Ryan Rickelton to take the catch, as Sri Lanka were all out for 238.

Veteran Proteas pace bowler Dane Paterson picked up the man of the match award after picking up 5-71 in the first innings and 2-33 in the second, helping his side keep the visitors in check at various stages of the match.

“It feels very good, but this is basically a team MOM (man of the match). Rickelton and (Kyle) Verreynne batted well and now Keshav with a five-for. So it was a good MOM for the team,” said Paterson.

“It is a good feeling putting in the work and getting rewarded. I bowled some long spells and am just thrilled that we won the game.”

Proteas captain Bavuma, who returned in this series after a spell on the sidelines with an elbow injury, was named player of the series after he scored 70 and 113 in the first test win in Durban, and 78 and 66 in this test.

“It’s been good to be back. It was frustrating watching the guys from the sidelines. So I have enjoyed the opportunity to be back out there with them,” said Bavuma.

“There was a lot of hunger and desire from my side to take my opportunity when the body allowed it. Fortunately, the opportunities came in this series and I was able to grab them.

“Durban was quite tricky, especially on day one where the conditions overhead weren’t ideal. From my side I just tried to keep that intent of looking to score, which is something I have been trying to focus on and not worrying about the technique and what it looks like.

“Fortunately I have been moving quite nicely. I felt fresh mentally and physically, and I guess I was able to contribute from a runs point of view.”

Bavuma was also happy with the way his team played in the second test, after dominating the first in under four days, with them being pushed all the way to the final day at St George’s.

“For a lot of the guys, this was a proper match and exactly what test cricket is about. It’s quite rare these days to get to day five of a test match, and it’s also rare for the game to always be in the balance,” explained Bavuma.

“There were times when we were on top and times when Sri Lanka got the momentum back on their side. So a lot of credit has to go to the Sri Lankan team and the way they went about their business. They really made us work for the result.

“But it is also a testament to our character as a team, always staying there within the fight and backing it up from a skill point of view.”

SOLID START FOR PROTEAS

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 found themselves in deep trouble on 122 for five 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 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

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