South Africa clinched a successful series win against Sri Lanka, winning the second Test by a huge margin of 109 runs. Play on the final day did not last long, as the Lankans lost their last five wickets for just 33 runs.
Resuming Day 5 from the overnight score of 205/5, the match was finely poised with skipper, Dhananjaya de Silva, and wicketkeeper-batter, Kusal Mendis, well-set in the middle. However, it was Keshav Maharaj who brought about the first breakthrough of the day. A sharp take by Aiden Markram at first slip meant Mendis had to walk back. Just a few overs later, de Silva perished, a couple of deliveries after registering his half-century.
An ordinary long hop by Maharaj brought about Prabath Jayasuriya’s downfall. All Jayasuriya could manage was clobber the ball straight to the skipper, Temba Bavuma at extra-cover. It was in Maharaj’s 25th over of the innings that he secured his 11th five-wicket haul in Tests. Two balls later, Lahiru Kumara’s dismissal meant South Africa had climbed onto the first position on the World Test Championship, at least for the time being.
For Sri Lanka to qualify for the final of the 2023-25 cycle of the WTC, they would have to bank on a specific set of results, even if they manage to win both their home Tests against Australia next year.
“This game was tighter than the last one; the boys fought hard, but we weren’t good enough. The conditions are obviously different to Sri Lanka; the bowling attack they had, they kept asking questions, even the spinners. I think they played better than us. We’re getting better [playing in SENA countries], but need to get better in every department. We don’t have plans yet [for the home Tests v Australia] but it’ll spin [in Galle],” a disappointed Dhananjaya de Silva told during the post-match party.
Here’s how X reacted to Day 5 of the second SA-SL Test and the host’s series win:
SOUTH AFRICA BECOMES THE NUMBER 1 RANKED TEAM IN WTC POINTS TABLE…!!!! 🏆
– Bavuma & his boys are dominating this cycle.#SAvsSL #SAvSL #SLvsSA #WTC#WTC2025 #RohitSharma #JaspritBumrah #ShubmanGill
#AUSvsIND #AUSvIND #INDvAUS #INDvsAUS #KLRahul #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/LADbozWKX4
— Monish (@Monish09cric) December 9, 2024
– SA beat SL in 1st Test by 233 runs.
– SA beat SL in 2nd Test by 109 runs.
– SOUTH AFRICA HAVE WON THE TEST SERIES vs SRI LANKA BY 2-0…!!!! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/CTSYiGG5Sy
— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) December 9, 2024
SA vs AUS wtc final its going to be #SAvsSL
— Anu (@siddy_my_jaan) December 9, 2024
Well fought by SL but SA takes the series 2-0 and put them in driving seat for WTC finals.. #SAvSL
— Karthick Shivaraman™ (@iskarthi_) December 9, 2024
South Africa have beaten Sri Lanka
2-0 Test Series #SAvSL
— Vernon (@VernonGunners) December 9, 2024
That’s too quick and too easy for South Africa 💔#SLvsSA
— Indoosan (@Indooshan) December 9, 2024
So Maharaj ne South Africa ko almost WTC final me pahuncha dia hai! 👏#SLvsSA #SLvSA #SAvSL #WTC2025 pic.twitter.com/kZc9p369lX
— Palash Pansey (@PALASHPANSEY) December 9, 2024
🚨 SOUTH AFRICA WILL QUALIFY FOR THE WTC FINAL IF THEY WIN 1 TEST VS PAKISTAN…!!! 🚨#SAvsSL #SLvsSA #SAvsPAK #WTC2025 pic.twitter.com/t1im6HL27O
— chanchal sarkar (@cricxnews140982) December 9, 2024