South Africa was quick to close an inning and a 45-run win over Sri Lanka in Tuesday’s first round as the promising start to the Tourists’ match and series was undone when a number of them left the field injured. Four of the five Sri Lankans who were injured during the Test still came out at bat on the fourth day in a vain effort to save the game, but it didn’t matter.
South Africa’s fast bowlers needed just over a session on day four to finish Sri Lanka’s second inning. Sri Lanka, starting the day 65-2 and facing defeat, was eliminated by 180 in 46.1 overs. Silva’s Allrounder Dhananjaya was unable to hit due to his thigh injury, meaning South Africa needed just nine wickets at the end to win.
South Africa took five wickets in the first session of the day and finished Sri Lanka with the last two wickets less than half an hour after lunch, despite some resistance from Kusal Perera (64) and Wanindu Haranga (59). South African pacemakers Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wiaan Mulder and Lutho Sipamla collected two plots each at the entrances.
Sri Lanka’s big defeat was the result of a marked turnaround in the Test after the Sri Lankans made a good start, registering 396 in the first innings for their best Test total in South Africa. But Sri Lanka was hampered by the flow of players leaving the field injured: De Silva left the first day while batting, fast pitcher Kasun Rajitha was injured on Day 2 and bowlers Lahiru Kumara and Wanindu Haranga and the batter. Dinesh Chandimal were injured on Monday. .
The absence of frontline rapids Rajitha and Kumara especially exposed Sri Lanka’s bowling attack and the South African batsmen were ruthless in the one inning they needed to settle the game.
South Africa made 621 in their opening innings, with 199 from Faf du Plessis, 95 from Dean Elgar and half a century from three other players. Sri Lanka’s injury problems have been caused in part by the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting closures and curfews in their country, giving the team little opportunity to prepare for the tour to South Africa.
Sri Lanka had no three- or four-day warm-up matches in preparation for this series, and the players’ only preparation was a domestic Twenty20 competition.
“If the world was normal, I don’t think we would be in this situation,” Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur said, “because I think the conditioning would be perfect and I think the guys would be ready to play. Fortunately, we brought in 21 players, otherwise it would be hitting coach Grant Flower at No. 3 and me at No. 4 in the next Test. “
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