SA vs SL 2024: Top 3 performers from the series

The two-match series between South Africa and Sri Lanka ended in the hosts clinching a convincing 2-0 win. The series was surrounded by significant hype ahead of its commencement. Both of the sides were coming off triumphs in their respective two-match series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, respectively.

The hosts emerged on top in the Durban Test by a dominating margin of 233 runs. It was a game of contrasting performances with the bat. The batting performance from both the sides in the first innings was severely underwhelming, with Sri Lanka getting knocked over for their lowest Test score (42) up until now. However, a couple of centuries in the third innings followed by an all-round bowling display secured victory in four days from the start of the game.

The second Test, however, was a closer contest than the first one. This time around, both the sides were almost on level terms in their first innings. It was their second innings which made the difference in the end, coupled with the transformed nature of the pitch being more conducive to spinners as the game progressed.

Let’s have a look at top 3 performances from the series

3. Prabath Jayasuriya

Prabath Jayasuriya (Photo Source: X)

Prabath Jayasuriya emerged as the second-leading wicket-taker for Sri Lanka in the series. The left-arm spinner ended with 10 wickets in four innings. Bowling 110 overs across the series, he was successful in conceding going at only 3.35 per over. His bowling average was 36.90.

Prabath bowled just five overs in the first innings of the first Test. The bulk of the workload was assigned to the Lankan pacers. However, he was shouldered a major responsibility in South Africa’s second innings. He ended up bowling 40 overs in that innings – more than twice the amount any other Lankan bowler bowled.

Although the 33-year-old toiled hard in the opposition’s first innings in the second game, he only ended up with one wicket to his name. With the bat, Prabath contributed 24 vital runs while coming in at No. 8 during his side’s first innings. His final opportunity to shine with the ball was when he spun the Proteas batters into a web, securing his 10th five-wicket haul in Tests in the process.

2. Marco Jansen

Marco Jansen (Photo Source: X)

Marco Jansen ended up as the leading wicket-taker in the series with 14 wickets. His menacing channels were a constant threat to the Lankan batters. He ended the series striking at an impressive average 17.14 with the ball.

The towering pacer standing at 6’9″ was the Player of the Match in the first Test, and for obvious reasons. Sri Lanka’s first innings in which they were obliterated for just 42 had Jansen dismiss all seven of his victims on single-digit scores. He capped off the game by registering career-best match figures of 11/86.

Although Jansen was a touch expensive in the first innings of the second Test, he picked up the crucial wickets of the well-set Angelo Mathews and Kamindu Mendis. There was not a lot of contribution from Jansen’s side in the second innings. He wrapped off the match by claiming the last Lankan wicket.

1. Temba Bavuma

Temba Bavuma (Photo Source: X)

There could not have been a better comeback to the international side for Temba Bavuma. The skipper marked his return in emphatic style. Coming back from an injury to the left elbow, he was rightfully adjudged the Player of the Series for his outings with the bat as well as the leadership he exhibited on the field.

His 70 was one of the main reasons which carried South Africa to a decently respectable total of 191 in the very first innings of the opening Test. At a crucial juncture in the second Test, he worked in unison with Tristan Stubbs to string a 249-run stand for the fourth wicket. His third Test ton established South Africa in a commanding position in the game.

Bavuma was on his way to a successive Test ton, but got dismissed for 78 in the first innings of the second Test. He top-scored in the second innings with a noteworthy 66. Overall, he ended the series on a high with 327 runs across four innings at a staggering average of 81.75.

A rank long hop by Keshav Maharaj during the Lankan run-chase which was smashed to Bavuma at extra-cover for Prabath Jayasuriya to walk back to the pavilion was quite an exceptional moment on the field as far as his contribution in the field is concerned.