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Faf Du Plessis had a career-best 177, while South Africa reached 565 for six at tea, a 169 lead in the first inning.
South Africa’s Faf du Plessis plays a shot during the third day of the first test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at SuperSport Park in Centurion on December 28, 2020. Image: AFP
CENTURION – Former captain Faf du Plessis led South Africa into a dominant position as Sri Lanka suffered further injuries on the third day of Test 1 at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Monday.
Du Plessis posted a career-best 177, while South Africa reached 565 for six at tea, a 169 lead in the first inning.
Sri Lanka, already without starting pitcher Kasun Rajitha, who was stopped with a groin injury in the sixth end of the inning, lost fast pitcher Lahiru Kumara and leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga during an afternoon in which South Africa added 130 racing for the loss of a wicket.
Kumara left the field with what appeared to be a groin injury after throwing the first ball of a new spell shortly after lunch, while Hasaranga landed on the ball as he dived over the edge almost immediately after firing Wiaan Mulder. , the only Sri Lankan hit between lunch and tea. Hasaranga returned to the field in time to launch two laps before tea.
Sri Lanka also lost to Dhananjaya de Silva, who was ruled out of the remainder of the two-game series with a grade two muscle tear after the first day of play. Although primarily a hitter, De Silva is also a useful spinner.
Due to the series of injuries, Captain Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis were called into action as emergency bowlers.
Du Plessis shared a 179 wicket position with Temba Bavuma, who made 71 before firing off a medium-paced Dasun Shanaka ball and immediately started walking back to the locker room as the ball reached goalkeeper Niroshan Dickwella. Referee Marais Erasmus was not called to make a decision.
The repetitions showed that there had been no contact between the bat and the ball, with no spikes appearing on the ultra-edge. A clear gap was visible as the ball passed the bat.
The limit that Du Plessis’s century brought up also made the former captain the ninth South African to reach 4,000 test runs. His hundred was scored on 151 balls and included 15 fours.
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