Sri Lanka fought hard to keep their hopes alive in the second Test against South Africa, ending Day Four at 205 for five while chasing 348 runs. Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis formed a vital partnership, while Prabath Jayasuriya took five wickets in South Africa’s second innings, helping Sri Lanka to remain competitive in the match.
On the fourth day of the second Test match at St George’s Park, Sri Lanka demonstrated resilience against South Africa, sustaining their chance of victory. Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis, the last recognized batsmen for Sri Lanka, forged an unbeaten partnership of 83 runs, concluding the day at 205 for five while chasing a target of 348. Initially, Sri Lanka struggled at 122 for five, with South African bowlers Dane Paterson and Keshav Maharaj each taking two wickets. However, the protective innings played by de Silva and Mendis, both scoring 39 not out, effectively countered the South African bowling and maintained a scoring rate above four runs per over.
In the earlier part of the day, Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya achieved remarkable success, marking his tenth five-wicket haul in Test cricket—his first outside Sri Lanka—by claiming five wickets for 129 runs, as South Africa managed 317 runs in their second innings after starting the day at 191 for three. Jayasuriya was particularly dominant in the morning session, capturing three wickets prior to lunch, while exploiting the rough outside the right-handed batsmen’s leg stump. South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada provided an early breakthrough by dismissing Dimuth Karunaratne in the third over, yet the Sri Lankan team maintained a commendable performance on a pitch favorable for batting.
The ongoing Test series between Sri Lanka and South Africa is of significant importance, providing both teams a platform to showcase their skills on the international stage. As the series proceeds into the second Test, Sri Lanka strives to salvage a win in the match to prevent a 2-0 clean sweep by South Africa. The performance of players like Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis, along with Prabath Jayasuriya’s outstanding bowling, underscores the competitive nature of the clash.
The fourth day of the second Test saw Sri Lanka battling fiercely to maintain their position against South Africa, with notable contributions from Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis. Their partnership kept Sri Lanka afloat after an early collapse, while Prabath Jayasuriya’s exceptional bowling influenced South Africa’s innings. As the match progresses, the players’ performances will be crucial in determining the outcome and avoiding a series defeat for Sri Lanka.
Original Source: sports.ndtv.com
