Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram prosper against Sri Lanka’s impoverished population

CENTURION – South African opening batsmen Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram scored freely against a frazzled bowling attack from Sri Lanka as the host nation fought back on the second day of Test 1 at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Sunday.

The Proteas were 180 to one in tea in response to a whopping 396 total in Sri Lanka’s early innings.

Elgar and Markram posted 141 for the first wicket, scoring nearly five runs and more, before Markram was caught in Vishwa Fernando’s ravine for 68. Elgar was undefeated with 86 in the interval.

Sri Lanka entered the game without leading fast pitcher Suranga Lakmal due to a hamstring strain and suffered a major blow when starting pitcher Kasun Rajitha limped off the field with what appeared to be a groin injury after pitching. a ball in his third over.

Sri Lanka was already without batter Dhananjaya de Silva who was ruled out of the rest of the series after suffering a grade two tear in his left thigh that forced him to retire injured after scoring 79 on Saturday.

With De Silva also a capable bowler, the tourists were reduced to a four-man attack, which included Dasun Shanaka, bowling at a medium soft pace, and rookie Wanindu Hasaranga.

As had been the case with inexperienced South African bowlers, Sri Lankans struggled to find consistency and batters took advantage of some loose bowls. Markram and Elgar hit 14 fours each in a fast outfield.

Previously, Shanaka hit an aggressive 66 with no out before South Africa’s new top cap Lutho Sipamla wrapped up Sri Lanka’s innings by taking three wickets on 11 balls.

Shanaka, 29, playing in his first tryout in more than three years, and with a previous high of 17 in three appearances, hit three-fours and five-sixes in his 87 innings.

Sri Lanka’s total far exceeded its previous high in a test entry in South Africa, 342 in Cape Town in 2011/12.

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