Sri Lanka is struggling at 205-5 in their pursuit of 348 runs against South Africa in the second Test at St George’s Park, with some resilience shown by Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis in a partnership. The match’s outcome appears to favor South Africa due to their effective bowling. History indicates that chasing above 271 runs here is highly challenging.
In the ongoing second Test match at St George’s Park, Gqeberha, South Africa has put Sri Lanka in a precarious position at 205-5, as the home side defends a target of 348 runs. South Africa’s medium-pacer, Dane Paterson, and spinner Keshav Maharaj each claimed two wickets, effectively dismantling Sri Lanka’s batting order. The innings commenced poorly for Sri Lanka, with Kagiso Rabada dismissing opener Dimuth Karunaratne in the early stages. However, Sri Lanka’s captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis have forged an encouraging partnership, remaining unbeaten at 39 runs each, allowing the game to move into a fifth day. The historical challenge remains evident, as the highest successful chase recorded at this venue was 271 runs, accomplished by Australia 27 years prior.
The context of this cricket match is situated within a competitive second Test series between South Africa and Sri Lanka, ongoing on South African soil. The match has extended into a fourth day, revealing the challenges Sri Lanka faces in chasing a challenging target of 348 runs. This target heightens the pressure on Sri Lanka, particularly given the historical tendencies of the ground that has seen a successful chase fall below their current target, which was set 27 years ago by Australia.
In summary, Sri Lanka remains in a fragile position at 205-5, with their attempt to chase down 348 runs against South Africa still underway. The finish line looms with uncertainty particularly as they require a strong finish from their two remaining batsmen, Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis, who are currently at the crease. South Africa, buoyed by effective bowling performances from Paterson and Maharaj, is on track to secure a win in the match if they can dismiss the Sri Lankan pair in timely fashion.
Original Source: apnews.com
