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Some of their scalps might have been considered serendipitous, but the firepower of Lungi Ngidi and Nothing Sipamla while heading the Proteas’ march to a 10 wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second test at the Wanderers on Tuesday.
SCORECARD | Proteas v Sri Lanka, second test
The dynamic duo combined for seven wickets when they abruptly interrupted the visitors’ scramble from the day before, knocking them out 211 on their second dig and leaving their own hitters with just 67 runs to secure a whitewashed 2-0 series.
That was accomplished in some haste, as Dean Elgar (36) and Aiden Markram (31) hit the target in less than 14 overs.
The proceedings unfolded eerily similar to day two, as the visitors lost their last six wickets by just 35 runs, reflecting South Africa’s implosion of nine of 84.
In keeping with the trend of hitting prosperity periods interspersed with bowling dominance, things initially did not turn out as hosts, as Dimuth Karunaratne, the captain of Sri Lanka and classy starter, continued to hit with the greatest of ease. and authority.
It reached a brilliant 10th century of testing with just 123 deliveries and continued to build over a menacing fifth wicket post with a restricted Niroshan Dickwella.
But the Sri Lankan hero turned into a villain when Karunaratne gave Ngidi a shy touch.
It was a bad way to end a good inning.
That curse of momentary indiscretion spread to the rest of the batting order as the Sri Lankans fell ill.
Dickwella (36) landed a mid-shot on a fuller delivery from Ngidi that only got a lead and traveled halfway, before Dasun Shanaka suffered a similar fate at Sipamla bowling with a poor chip in the middle.
Wanindu Hasaranga’s firing was the most arrogant of all, a reckless buzz to a direct one from Sipamla before Proteas’s rookie closer completed another impressive spell by cleaning the tail in a more conventional manner.
Ngidi finished with figures of 4/44, showing that he is more than willing to shoulder the burden of being Proteas’ most experienced rapid in the absence of Kagiso Rabada, but the real revelation has been Sipamla (3/40).
From a disciplined start to his test career on day one at Centurion, the 22-year-old finishes the series with an impressive 10-wicket course and it seems certain that he will have a consistent presence on the national team from now on.
