Related Links : Sri Lanka Vs South Africa : 2nd Test
The 2nd Test Match at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium is heading towards an exciting climax with the homeside required to chase a target of 300 plus to save the 2-Tests Series from being drawn. The first innings lead of 40 has proved to be crucial for South Africa as they took their lead to 297 with three more wickets in hand and most importantly they have two all rounders at the crease. Sri Lanka could have easily lost their hopes in this Test Match as Herschelle Gibbs and Andrew Hall put on a magnificent opening partnership. It was once again Muralitharan putting a halt to South Africa’s progress by taking four wickets after bowling 39 out of the 92 overs bowled in this innings. For South Africa, it was Herschelle Gibbs coming good at the right time to score a brilliant 92. The rest of the batsmen could not get even fifties.
It was a tense day with both sides fighting an intense battle to gain the upper hand in this Test Match. The Proteas got off to a wonderful start to leave the Sri Lankans worried. It was Farveez Maharoof, who gave the breakthrough after the first hour by inducing a false backfoot drive from Andrew Hall who made 32. Another good partnership had followed between Herschelle Gibbs, who had reached his 22nd fifty and left handed Jacques Rudolph. The pair was separated only after the lunch break with Rudolph done in by a direct throw from Chamara Kapugedera all the way from the thirdman boundary. It was indeed brilliant work by Kapugedera, but the TV Replays had shown that the ball which had come off the pads of Gibbs had touched the ropes, so this wicket of Rudolph could be one of the turning points in this match. For the record, Rudolph made 15, putting up 43 for the second wicket. Another run out followed from the same fielder, this time it was a smart pick up and throw from behind square on the legside to end Hashim Amla’s stay in the middle after he had a terrible mix up with his partner. South Africa almost lost the plot when Herschelle Gibbs, playing the sweep shot was taken by a diving Sanath Jayasuriya at short fine leg off Murali’s bowling. Gibbs made a 190-ball 92 with the help of 11 fours and a six and with his wicket South Africa were reduced to 161 for 4, a lead of just 201.
Skipper Ashwell Prince and AB de Villiers decided to stay at the wicket at any cost and that ensured that Murali and Sri Lanka could not run through the batting line up. Muralitharan once again gave the knock out punch by removing both these batsmen in the same over to get South Africa down to 206 for 6. Prince laboured for just 17 runs and AB de Villiers made a useful 33. South Africa were then rescued by the experienced Mark Boucher and Shaun Pollock until the latter had pulled a long hop from Murali into the hands of the square leg fielder. Boucher and Boje then batted for about 7 overs to see the Proteas home at 257 for 7 in 92 overs at stumps on the third day’s play. Mark Boucher is batting well on 28 and South Africa would love to see that score turn into a half century.
It is definitely going to be yet another action packed day tomorrow with both sides desperately searching for the victory. South Africa should be setting up a target of 300 plus which should be tough to chase in a fourth innings but that score is hardly anything as one Sri Lankan batsman by the name of Mahela Jayawardene had hammered this same South African team for 376 runs in the previous Test Match. This time around it could be a different story batting against the likes of the charged up Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn, the dreaded fast bowling pair on this sporting wicket.