DAY 3: Bavuma, Stubbs build lead for Proteas

Temba Bavuma, who struck his second half-century in the match, and Tristan Stubbs featured in an unbroken century partnership to underscore South Africa’s dominance on the third morning of the first test at a sunny Kingsmead in Durban on Friday.

At the break, South Africa had reached 233 for three in their second innings, an overall lead of 382, with Bavuma (64 in 145 balls) and Stubbs (70 in 149 balls) having so far added 144 off 290 balls for the fourth wicket.

For the most part, the pair batted solidly and without undue distress throughout the morning although Stubbs was dropped twice, first by Angelo Mathews at slip off paceman Vishwa Fernando and then (a technical chance only) by wicketkeeper Kamindu Mendis close to lunch when he attempted a reverse-sweep off Prabath Jayasuriya.

The batters settled slowly to their work at the start of the session with Stubbs the more confident of the two. The aim, clearly, was to bat time, extend South Africa’s lead and, most importantly, ensure that the pitch begins to deteriorate. There were certainly moments when Jayasuriya – who bowled throughout the session – got turn and a little uneven bounce, but while he earned the respect of the batters, he posed few serious problems.

As a variation, Sri Lanka’s fastest bowler, Lahiru Kumara, attempted a short-ball attack late in the session but without success.

Bavuma’s half-century was his 23rd in tests, while it was Stubbs’s second 50. The latter memorably broke free of his disciplined approach close to lunch, on-driving a huge six into the North Stand off Dhananjaya de Silva.

SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (capt.), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada

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